Police investigate murder of Mamelodi spaza shop owner
The altercation between the suspect and the victim took place on Monday morning outside the victim's spaza shop in Mamelodi.
Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 45-year-old spaza shop owner in Mamelodi East, following an altercation that occurred on Monday morning.
The deceased is believed to be an Ethiopian national, according to police.
Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk said officers from the Mamelodi East police station were dispatched to the scene around 08:00 after receiving reports of a shooting incident.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that an altercation between the suspect and the victim took place earlier that morning, around 06:00, outside the victim’s spaza shop,” he said.
Van Dyk added that the victim was reportedly seated inside his white Toyota Corolla at the time of the dispute.
“During the argument, the suspect allegedly drew a firearm and fired several shots through the windscreen of the vehicle, striking the victim multiple times.”
The suspect then fled the scene.
Van Dyk noted that family members were informed shortly after the incident and rushed to the scene.
“They transported the injured man to hospital using the same vehicle he had been shot in,” he said.
However, while en route, the vehicle was stopped by Tshwane Metro Police officers, who discovered the victim in the back seat.
TMPD members in region 6 Mamelodi arrested 3 Somalian male nationals who were found inside a stationary vehicle with a deceased body, case is under investigation by the South African Police Services #TMPDSafety pic.twitter.com/3Q4iDLEMT6
— Tshwane Metro Police (@TMPDSafety) May 19, 2025
“When the officers inspected the vehicle, the victim had already succumbed to his injuries.”
Crime scene experts were called to the location to process the area and gather forensic evidence, which will aid detectives in tracking down the perpetrator.
“A case of murder has been opened, and we are actively following all available leads in an effort to trace and apprehend the suspect.”
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