Shots fired as jewellery shop is robbed at East Rand Mall

Witnesses have described the moments that robbers randomly started shooting after they assaulted three people during a robbery at a jewellery shop at the East Rand Mall in Gauteng.

“A number of gunmen stormed the shop and took items valued at undisclosed amount. A man and two women were injured‚” said ER24 spokesman Russel Meiring.

He said the people sustained minor injuries and were transferred to hospital.

“As far as we know‚ no one sustained any gunshot wounds. The man had been kicked several times‚” he said.

Conor McCallum‚ who was in the mall at the time of the shooting‚ told TMG Digital that the robbery occurred at the Sterns jewellery store near the western entrance of the centre.

“It was crazy. We heard a whole whack of shots‚” he said. “The front of the Sterns shop was all shot up and there was glass everywhere.”

McCallum said he had taken a photo of the scene but was ordered by police to delete it from his phone.

“We can confirm an armed robbery at the East Rand Mall this morning. Armed robbers held up the Hayward Diamonds store‚” East Rand Mall spokesperson Sonya Cawood said.

“While shots were fired‚ we can confirm we have had no serious injuries. Further information will be provided as it becomes available. The police are on the scene and we are working closely with them as the investigation continues.”