The Boksburg police are on the hunt for an armed gang of about eight robbers who fled with an undisclosed amount of money after shooting a police officer during a robbery at the Boxer Superstore in the CBD today (April 4).

Information gathered indicates that just before 07:00, two men armed with firearms ambushed staff as they were opening the business.

They took the employees’ cellphones and at gunpoint took the manager to the cash office, where they demanded keys to the safe.

After a few minutes, the robbers managed to open the safe. They took an undisclosed amount of cash and shoved the loot into a box before fleeing the scene.

Apparently, members of the public who witnessed the attack flagged down a police patrol van.

Officers responded to the scene. Upon their arrival, suspects shot at the police van and a shoot-out ensued between the police and the robbers.

One of the officers was shot in the leg during the shoot-out and taken to hospital for medical attention.

Prior to the shoot-out with police, it’s reported that the robbers held up a AAA security officer at gunpoint and took his firearm as he was responding to a panic button alert, potentially triggered by an employee during the robbery.

Police and private security officers earlier on surrounded the building as it was initially thought that one of the gunmen who held the manager at gunpoint and fired shots at the police was still inside the store.

However, it was later discovered that he had apparently managed to escape undetected after the shoot-out.

Police reports indicate that the robbers were seen fleeing the scene in two vehicles.

A case of armed robbery and attempted murder were registered, and investigators are following leads to arrest the eight men.

The stretch of road outside the store remained close almost the entire day as police were scanning for evidence and documenting the scene.

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