A pharmacy owner was killed after being shot outside his business premises on September 19.
Identified by family and acquaintances as Paul Hinson, the man was shot multiple times while speaking with a friend less than two metres away from the entrance of his Van Wyk Street establishment.
The friend the victim was in conversation with relayed that at roughly 17:00 on Monday evening bullets began to fly in their direction. Based on post-mortem information shared by the victim’s family, Hinson sustained at least 12 bullet wounds but miraculous his companion escaped without a scratch. Traumatised by what he had witnessed, the survivor recounted that it was a typical evening and he did not notice anybody approach them with intent. Once he heard the initial shots he claimed it was a blur of chaos which he fled from instinctively.
Said to be in his mid-40s, the victim was a Ghanaian national whose latter years of schooling were spent in South Africa. His wife had been with him the day before the incident but had just left on an overseas trip to the United States and was notified of her husband’s passing in transit. Hinson had owned the pharmacy for over 20 years but currently lived in Pretoria near his father, who was at the store the day after the incident.
Community activist, EFF member Mike Motaung, was with the family in the aftermath of the shooting and called on the community to assist police in identifying the men who brazenly shot the pharmacy owner on the busy sidewalk.
“It can not be correct that a man has been killed and nothing is happening. All we want is justice for the family and for the family to have closure. Whoever saw anything must come forward. I know people were taking pictures so please come forward and help the family,” said Motaung.
Grieving the brutal slaughter of a valuable business owner who employed several people, friends and family also raised questions about police who left two bullet casings at the scene, which were collected by sergeants 24 hours after the killing.
Roodepoort police spokesperson, Captain Juanita Yorke, confirmed that the station’s members were following up on any and all leads. “Should any member of the public have any information they may call Sergeant Mathope on 011 279 6451”.
