A conversation between friends ended in tragedy for a Roodepoort business owner on Monday afternoon.

Paul Hinson, a Ghanaian national whose latter years of schooling were spent in South Africa, was shot at least 12 times, post mortem information shared by his family confirms.

Hinson was on the sidewalk outside his business in Van Wyk Street, speaking to a friend, when shots were fired in their direction.

Hinson was killed while his friend escaped without sustaining injuries. The survivor recounted that it was a typical evening and that he did not notice anybody approach them with intent to kill them. He says it was a blur of chaos once he heard the initial shots, and that he fled from the scene instinctively.

Hinson’s wife had been with him the day before the incident but had just left on an overseas trip to the US, when her husband was killed. She was notified of her husband’s passing while in transit.

Community activist and EFF member Mike Motaung was with the family in the aftermath of the shooting and called on the community to assist police in identifying the men who brazenly shot the pharmacy owner on the busy sidewalk.

“We want justice for the family and for the family to have closure. Whoever saw anything must come forward. I know people were taking pictures so please come forward and help the family,” urges Motaung.

Grieving the death of the business owner who employed several people, friends and family also raised questions about police who, according to them, left two bullet casings at the scene. These are said to only have been collected by sergeants 24 hours after the killing.

Roodepoort police spokesperson Captain Juanita Yorke confirmed that they are following up on all leads. “Should any member of the public have any information, they may call Sergeant Mathope on 011 279 6451.”