A man committed suicide at a shopping centre parking lot in Bedfordview on Sunday, August 3.
The Bedfordview SAPS confirmed the incident.Shoppers at the Bedfordview shopping complex were shaken by the incident, which took place at 12-noon.
Constable Dapheny Phooko, a communications officer for the Germiston SAPS cluster who was on the scene said, “The man shot himself at the parking lot of a shopping mall, following what we believe was a domestic dispute,” said Const Phooko.
“Two Bedfordview SAPS officers were dispatched to the shopping centre for what was initially believed to be a case of theft. It was found that a couple was arguing and had locked themselves in a room of the retail outlet, refusing to open the door,” said Con Phooko.
“After the manager of the retail outlet phoned the police, the woman managed to escape the room. For safety reasons, the woman was taken to the officers who arrived on the scene shortly after the call,” said Const Phooko.
“When one of the officers investigated the room, which the couple had locked themselves in, he found live ammunition on the floor. The police officer called for back-up. While awaiting the back-up, the man emerged from the retail outlet with a firearm pointed at his head,” said Const Phooko.
“The officers instructed the man to put the firearm on the floor. The man did not comply and shot himself in the head,” said Con Phooko.
A representative of the centre who was on the scene, said the centre will issue a press statement at a later stage. @bedfordjourno
