A customer was shot during a brazen robbery at a jewellery store in Pietermaritzburg today (June 20), as armed suspects stormed the premises and fired shots in full view of shoppers.

The Witness reports that, according to Mi7, five armed robbers entered the store and discharged firearms at the display glass windows to gain access to jewellery. An undisclosed amount of jewellery was stolen during the robbery.

Customer injured

A customer from another shop sustained a gunshot wound during the incident and was treated on scene before being transported to hospital for further medical attention.

“There were children and families shopping at the mall, and the robbers fired randomly. It was absolutely terrifying — they ran past me,” said one witness.

Mi7 spokesperson Collin David confirmed that the robbers were armed with heavy-calibre weapons and ammunition. He added that the customer who was shot had been outside another shop at the time.

“The suspects, who are still at large, also fired shots at a police vehicle that was on the scene,” said David.

Panic at mall

No cash was stolen during the robbery, and all staff members from the jewellery store were accounted for and unharmed, although they were left severely traumatised.

The shooting sparked panic among shoppers, with many scrambling for safety. The mall was closed shortly afterwards as police and security personnel secured the scene.

Police were on the scene and investigations are underway. They had not yet issued an official comment at the time of publication.

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