Pretoria security officer, who killed suspected school learner robber, not arrested
“He did a good job by protecting the minor and a civilian’s life,” a manager at the security company says.
A security officer, who shot and killed a 32-year-old man suspected of attempting to rob a school learner near a shopping centre in the east of Pretoria, was not arrested pending a police investigation.
A Brinant security officer fatally shot the suspected robber from Mamelodi in the neck on October 28 in Simon Vermooten Road near the Grove shopping mall, Equestria, at 12:35.
A manager at the security company, who asked not to be named, said the security officer responded to a call from a panic-stricken resident who reported a minor being robbed at gunpoint.
“The officer responded and chased the suspected robbers who were in a blue VW Golf.”
In less than a kilometre, the manager said the suspected robber got out of the car and attempted to hijack another motorist at gunpoint.
“The officer shot him. He did a good job protecting the minor and a civilian’s life.”
He believed that the officer was protected by the law under the private defence act.
“If I, as a security officer, see someone robbing another at gunpoint, I may defend that person’s life. In this case, there was already a danger to human life.”
Police spokesperson Warrant-Officer Isaac Mculu said the suspect was declared dead on the scene by paramedics.
Two other suspects, Mpho Mothopo and Promise Kgothume, were arrested at the scene.
Mothopo and Kgothume, also from Mamelodi, appeared in the Pretoria magistrate’s court and were released because the case was provisionally withdrawn for further investigations.
Mculu said this because no statement was taken from the school learner victim.
“The boy was still very shaken and traumatised; hence, the statement was delayed. This does not mean we are not investigating. We are building a strong case and the matter will be back in court for the NPA to prosecute.”
Mculu said the deceased suspect’s firearm was taken for ballistics.
The two other accused, who were charged with attempted robbery, blamed the thwarted robbery on the deceased, he said.
Mculu also confirmed that the security officer was not arrested while police were still investigating circumstances leading to the death of the Mamelodi resident.
“The information we have so far is that the three suspects were trying to rob a school pupil. The deceased was said to be armed. They tried to push the boy into the car to rob him.”
The boy was not physically harmed during the ordeal, but Mculu said “the emotional backlash hit him hard”.
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