The scene of a man robbing people at a gas station.
- A man was shot at a service station in Thokoza in full view of the staff.
- The shooter then casually walked away before returning to the victim to search him.
- The victim is in critical condition at the hospital.
A man was shot in broad daylight at a service station in Thokoza, Gauteng, in full view of staff and passing motorists.
The incident, which was caught on CCTV, has gone viral on social media.
In the video, two men can be seen at the gas station moments before the shooting. The men, one in a yellow jacket and the other in a blue jacket, are standing next to a gray Renault Kwid and a white truck. Another man is seen crouching between them, pumping up the tires.
Suddenly, the man in the blue jacket points a gun at the man in yellow. The two men then “fight” and push each other into the open space at the rear of the Kwid. As that happens, the crouching man jumps up and runs away.
A gas station worker approaching the pumps to help a customer leave.
The man in blue then hits the man in yellow over the head and shoots him. After the shooting, the man in yellow can be seen lying on the ground as the shooter casually walks away.
A few seconds later, however, the shooter returns to the victim, stands next to him, kicks him, points the gun at him again, and searches him. This happens within full view of two staff members and a motorist in a red bakkie. The shooter then gets on the Kwid and drives off.
Moments later, a taxi driver flags down a passing Ekurhuleni Metro Police vehicle, which rushes to the gas station. After getting some information from the staff, the officers rush to chase the shooter.
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The man was arrested by Thatha Zonke, an anti-crime organization in the area, a short time later.
In a separate video posted to social media after the arrest, the suspected shooter gives his version of events, saying he was confused by what had happened before the shooting.
“We (victim and alleged shooter) were happy to see each other. But when I went to his side of the car, it looked like he was loading the gun. I used my left hand to block him and ask him what was going on. And that’s when I freaked out and asked him what he was doing.
“In no time, it had fallen to the ground because I pulled the trigger,” he said.
The scene of a man robbing people at a gas station.
Police spokesman Lt. Col. Mavela Masondo said a 33-year-old man was arrested Sunday and appeared in Palm Ridge Magistrate Court Tuesday.
“The defendant has been charged with kidnapping and attempted murder and is scheduled to appear in court a second time on February 14,” Masondo said.
The victim was said to be in critical condition at the hospital.
