An off-duty and civilly dressed law enforcement officer was shot and wounded during an attempted cash-in-transit robbery at the SPAR Goldman Crossing Shopping Centre on Friday, June 12.

According to Help24 director of operations Quentin Swart, who was the first responder on the scene, reports of multiple gunshots at the shopping centre were received through community groups shortly after noon.

Upon arrival, they were informed that a security officer had sustained three gunshot wounds to the legs and abdomen. The injured officer was rushed to the hospital for further medical care.

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Swart said four armed men with rifles, travelling in a Toyota bakkie, fled the scene after allegedly attempting to target a Fidelity cash-in-transit vehicle.

It remains unclear whether the officer was at the shopping centre on personal business and attempted to intervene in the robbery, or whether he was an innocent bystander.

Swart, however, confirmed that there was an exchange of gunfire between the officer and the suspects.

Goldman Locksmith manager Sheldon Howell said he was assisting a customer inside the shop when he heard the first gunshot ring out.

According to Howell, one of the gunmen then ran towards the entrance of the store and began firing in the direction of a nearby bank, while additional shots were fired elsewhere in the shopping centre.

“I immediately grabbed the customer, and we ran to the back of the shop for safety. After the shooting stopped, I went outside to see what had happened and noticed that someone had been shot.”

Bystander Kathy Slade said she was going to SPAR when she heard the first shot.

“I got a fright, and other gunshots started happening. I ran inside the shop and hid in the vegetable aisle,” she said, adding that this happened for about two minutes.

Police are still investigating the matter, and no arrests have been made.