CRESTA SHOOTING: investigations continue

Preliminary investigations into the shooting, which occurred at Cresta Shopping Mall on 13 August between 10am and 11am, are still continuing as police across all sectors hunt for the perpetrators.

Chairman of Linden Neighbourhood Watch Fareed Hoosen clarified aspects of the robbery and confirmed that they were the second response team on the scene, after a Linden Police sector vehicle.

“The crime scene was in chaos,” stated Hoosen. “When we arrived, people were still running out of the centre to their cars. We heard the sounds of gunfire as we approached the entrance.”

He explained that the shots sounded like machine gun fire, like AK47 assault rifles.

It was finally confirmed that there were six suspects. They held up staff at the newly opened Apple iStore and took all the iPhones and iPads they could , stuffing them into a big bag they had brought with them.

As they exited the shop with the bag, an armed guard in the vicinity was alerted, who began shooting at the suspects. He managed to shoot one of them, but they all managed to make their way to the exit. The armed guard was, however, in hot pursuit.

Shots were exchanged while shoppers ran for cover.

More suspects were waiting in the getaway vehicles, a white Corsa bakkie and a dark-coloured Audi A3, who used AK47’s to shoot at the guard. All of the robbers then managed to flee the crime scene and evade police.

An innocent bystander, standing at his car when the shooting occurred, was hit by a stray bullet in the arm. He managed to run to the mall entrance before collapsing.

“ER24 arrived at the scene within minutes and transported the man to hospital,” continued Hoosen.

Spokesperson for Apple iStores nationwide, Taryn Hyam, could only confirm that the incident took place. “Our staff who were subjected to this horrific ordeal have already received trauma counselling. The counselling has also been extended to customers who were in or around the store at the time.”

A witness to the incident and neighbouring shop assistant, who asked not to be named, said that she couldn’t believe what had happened. “We just saw and heard all this commotion. I don’t know why, but I went out to see what was going on, and I saw this guy with a gun,” the witness explained.

“I ran back into the store and shortly after that, I think probably four or five of them [the robbers] were trying to carry the bag full of stock and they started firing gunshots when they were turning by the Steers when security guys approached them.”

“A case of business robbery and attempted murder has been opened with the Hillbrow Police and no arrests have been made yet,” confirmed Hillbrow Police spokesperson, Thabu Malatji.