Stray bullet kills pensioner during cash heist
A PENSIONER was shot dead during a cash transit heist in Evaton in the Vaal triangle yesterday.
Julia Gambu, 81, had finished shopping and was waiting with a trolley full of groceries at the Evaton Plaza for her daughter-inlaw, Nonhlanhla Gambu, 24, to finish her shopping.
But, suddenly, wild gunfire rang out and claimed her life. Paramedics declared Gambu – who sustained two gunshot wounds – lay dead at the scene.
Gambu was apparently the unintended victim of a gunfight between suspected robbers and Group Four security guards at the Evaton Plaza.
Evaton police spokesman Constable Tshifhiwa Mitileni said six men armed with four 9mm pistols and two R5 semiautomatic rifles had attacked the security guards.
“The incident happened at around 10.15am when a security guard who was carrying money boxes was disarmed by three men armed with firearms,” Mitileni said yesterday.
“When his escort tried to react he too was disarmed by the suspects.”
Mitileni said that after taking the money boxes the suspects started firing randomly into the air.
“Unfortunately, the old lady was hit by a stray bullet. The police have retrieved spent cartridges both inside and outside the mall.
“The suspects fled in a green Toyota Camry, which they had stolen earlier at the Plaza. The suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.”
Mitileni said an off-duty Emfuleni traffic officer had given chase but was shot at by the suspects and had to retreat.
“No one has yet been arrested but police investigations are continuing,” Mitileni said.
Nonhlanhla Gambu told Sowetan she was so shocked by her mother-inlaw ’ s unexpected death all she could say was “this leaves me speechless”.