A security guard at a local shopping centre has been killed for his firearm.
Just hours after Herman Hendricks, 38, was shot and killed at China Town in Ottery on Saturday, cops arrested his suspected killer thanks to CCTV footage, according to a spokesman for the centre.
One shopper, Dilnawaaz Mohamed, commented on Facebook: “OMW, so sad. I was there when the shooting took place. Not even aware that it was gunshots .
“Only realised afterwards when my husband told me and I saw all the people running.”
A photograph of Herman in security uniform, lying in a pool of blood, went viral on Facebook moments after the 3.30pm shooting.
Pierre Steenkamp of China Town Centre Management said: “The suspect has been caught [on Saturday] night after clear images of him were captured on our CCTV cameras followed up by good police work.”
However, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel André Traut could not confirm any arrests. “On Saturday around 3.30pm, a 38-year-old security officer was shot and killed and robbed of his firearm at China Town, Ottery,” he says.
“The suspect fled and is yet to be arrested.”
Herman’s distraught family told the Daily Voice on Sunday they were too traumatised to speak but described him as a “loving father”.
They said they knew every little about the incident.
He leaves behind a 10-year-old daughter and his wife, Chantal.
Chantal posted on Facebook: “Today I have lost my dearest husband Herman Jade Hendricks in an armed robbery.
“I trust that God has made a way for him. May your soul rest in peace throughout eternity.”
Later the evening, she posted: “It’s only been a few hours and it seems like eternity. Not for once did I think this would be happening. Thanks to all for condolences, etc.”
Last year, shop owner Jiang Bin was shot and killed when four armed robbers pretended to be customers.
They robbed the store of cash and fled on foot. They hijacked a vehicle close to the murder scene.
The main suspect later handed himself over to police after images of the robbery went viral on Facebook.