A robbery at a small shop in Mondlo, KZN, ended in a fatal shooting last night, leaving a 48-year-old man dead in the street outside the business.

Vryheid Herald reports that police were called to Block A between 18:30 and 19:30, where the man was found with a gunshot wound.

Robbers pretend to buy maize meal

According to early information given to police, the incident began when two men entered the shop to buy a 50kg bag of maize meal. After the shop operator fetched the bag and opened the steel door to hand it over, one of the men pulled out a firearm and fired a shot.

People inside the shop ran for cover as the pair forced the shop operator to lie on the floor and took cash and goods before fleeing.

Victim found outside

Once the scene calmed, the shop operator stepped outside and found the fatally wounded man lying in the road. He told police the man was known in the area and believed he may have been shot as the robbers fled.

A SAPS source not authorised to speak to the media confirmed the incident to the Vryheid Herald.

“It was a business robbery that turned deadly. The victim was found outside the shop shortly after the suspects ran off,” the source said.

Two questioned, one still being traced

The same source said police are following several leads gathered at the scene.

“We received information from community members, which led to two people being brought in for questioning. Detectives are still tracing another individual who may assist with the investigation,” the source said.

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