A suspect had been arrested and charged with attempted murder and armed robbery on Monday morning, following a shooting on Friday afternoon just outside Norkem Mall.
Norkem Park SAPS spokesman, Capt Lesibana Molokomme, said the man was arrested at his home in Tembisa. The police are searching for his three accomplices.
The incident took place on the corner of Quintus van der Walt Street and James Wright Avenue in Norkem Park, just behind the Spur.
The arrested suspect is one of four allegedly involved in the shooting and robbery of Mrs Gillespie (68). Gillespie was shot once and the bullet went through her windscreen and entered her mid-arm, before entering the side of her chest.
“She was airlifted from the scene by the Netcare2 helicopter and taken to a trauma 1 facility,” said Netcare 911 spokesman, Athlenda Mathe.
Mrs Gillespie is currently in a stable condition in ICU.
The four perpetrators fled the scene with her hand bag, as well as a bag filled with paperwork.
“Norkem Park SAPS detectives worked tirelessly after the incident and this morning (October 3) at 4am, they arrested a male suspect aged 39 at his place in Enxiwini Section, Tembisa,” he explained.
Molokomme said the arrested suspect had been out on parole since 2012 for a similar robbery charge committed in Springs in 2003.
According to Mrs Gillespie’s son, who is the owner of Romans Pizza in Norkem Mall, Graham Gillespie (47), his mother was not collecting cash nor was she returning from an ATM or bank as speculated and reported across social media and various publications.
She is alive, in ICU, and is recovering very well, he said on Monday morning.
“My mom works for me. She does paperwork for the shop and on the day in question she came to the shop to collect paperwork as she does daily. Whoever gave out information, gave out the wrong information, which resulted in an elderly woman being shot for paperwork and a few coins,” he said.
“We don’t deal with cash at all. We never have large amounts of cash on the premises as we have a cash management service,” he added.
After leaving Romans Pizza with the paperwork, Mrs Gillespie found a BMW waiting for her with the four suspects, three of which are still at large.
Gillespie said after being shot, he is not sure whether his mother was pulled out the vehicle. All he knows is that she had tried walking towards the mall before collapsing on the pavement just outside the entrance.
Asked if he thought it was an inside job, Gillespie said ongoing investigations would reveal the truth.
MML response officer dispatched to the scene, Johan Fourie, sped to the scene from Birchleigh and lost control of his vehicle, swerving and crashing into a lamp post on James Wright Avenue just outside the mall.
“MML medical staff were already on the scene when I arrived and the suspects had fled the scene,” explained Fourie.
The response vehicle was towed from the scene with damage to its left side.
Mrs Gillespie has been described as a soft, kind, warm-hearted woman who never complains. “She’s a really fantastic person, you couldn’t ask for a better mother who always offers guidance and support,” said her son.
Gillespie said his mom had undergone surgery on Sunday afternoon. She is strong and doing well.
“A big thanks to everyone involved in helping her and contacting the paramedics, just shows how well a community can pull together in circumstances like this. I have no words to express my appreciation to all involved. “
A case of armed robbery and attempted murder is still being investigated by Norkem Park SAPS.
