The security fraternity is mourning the loss of a reaction officer who was shot three times while still in his vehicle, during a business robbery at a Birch Acres Supermarket in Kempton Park.

According to Sergeant Barbara-Anne Ferreira, spokesperson for Norkem Park SAPS, the officer was allegedly shot while responding to a panic alert on August 25.

“It is alleged that the ADT officer responded to the supermarket where a business was reportedly robbed by six armed suspects,” says Ferreira.

Ferreira adds that some of the suspects approached the security officer, who was inside his vehicle and shot at him.

“It appears the security officer was trying to reverse his vehicle when he was shot three times by the suspects,” says Ferreira.

The suspects took cigarettes, worker’s cellphones and an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing the scene. They fled the scene in a white Toyota Corolla and a red VW Polo.

In critical condition, the officer was transported to a hospital.

“The officer, unfortunately, died in hospital the following morning. The charges being investigated are business robbery and murder,” says Ferreira.