Separate attacks on three armed response officers in one night have left the Claremont community reeling.
On Saturday 23 July, three security patrollers were attacked and robbed of their firearms in the southern suburbs.
Police say preliminary evidence points toward the men having been targeted for their weapons.
Of the three attacked officers, two sustained gunshot wounds of which one was fatal.
Confirming the two shooting incidents, Wahl Bartmann, CEO of the Fidelity Services Group, says they are deeply saddened by these attacks.
“In one incident in Claremont, a Fidelity ADT armed response officer was attacked by unknown suspects who reportedly targeted him for his firearm. Our officer sustained fatal gunshot injuries during the incident,” says Bartmann.
He says a second similar incident took place in Harfield Village where another armed response officer was attacked and his firearm taken from him.
“The officer is currently in hospital where he is undergoing treatment,” he says.
Bartmann says the group will provide the police their full cooperation to make sure that the attackers are found and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Taking to Facebook, local residents expressed their shock at the violent attacks.
“Killed in protecting our community… I’m in shock. It’s despicable, sad and how he went on duty not knowing he would not go home,” wrote Kim Stattmann.
Glenda Wallace wrote: “Thinking of the family who had lost their father. Thinking of the family who has a loved one lying in hospital right now, thinking of the ADT community who have lost a colleague.”
Ania Garnett wrote it was unacceptable that innocent lives were being lost.
“The families are grieving, survivors are traumatised. And the perpetrators are free to continue their spree. I hope and prey they are found,” she wrote.
Providing a breakdown of the targeted attacks on Saturday, Lt Col Marnus Fourie, Claremont Vispol commander, says the first incident took place in Wynberg when two male suspects assaulted and robbed an armed response officer of his firearm. The suspects drove away from the crime scene in their white VW Polo. Fourie says the patroller sustained slight injuries.
The next incident took place in Surrey Road, Claremont, at 21:19. Fourie says the armed response officer (38) was patrolling in his vehicle when a white VW Polo approached from the opposite side and stopped in front of him. Two male suspects got out of the car.
“Unfortunately for the guard, another private vehicle was behind him and blocked his escape,” he says.
Fourie states the two suspects tried to open the doors of the armed response vehicle.
“One suspect produced a pistol and fired two shots into the passenger side door of the vehicle, hitting the guard in his side. The second suspect managed to open the driver’s door and the males robbed the guard of his pistol.”
The two suspects then got into their vehicle and left.
The injured armed response officer drove to the Village Cafe on 1st Avenue, Harfield Village, where he raised the alarm. Upon the police’s Claremont Sector Team’s arrival, an ambulance was summoned which transported him to the hospital.
Fourie says while the Claremont officers were waiting for an ambulance, another shooting incident was reported at 21:50.
Responding to the scene at the demolished bowling clubhouse in Herschel Close, officers from the Claremont Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) found another armed response officer (50) robbed and shot. Discovered slumped in his armed response vehicle, the patroller had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body.
“The male was found slumped in his vehicle. Upon the ambulance’s arrival, the guard was declared deceased. His pistol was also taken,” says Fourie.
The Harfield Village Community Improvement District (HVCID) has started a fund in support of the families of both the officers who had been shot.
Caryn Rawlings, HVCID vice chair and acting treasurer, says they have already received five donations totalling R3 500.
HVCID is in the process of setting up a BackaBuddy crowdfunding account. For more information, email admin@hvcid.co.za
- Witnesses are asked to contact Detective WO Witbooi on 079 894 0144 or Detective WO Tukwayo on 079 894 1564.
