A man was shot and killed in Charisse Evans’ first encounter with robbers at the shop she took over from her late father, Ming "Basayi" Chan-Henry.
A man was shot and killed in Charisse Evans’ first encounter with robbers at the shop she took over from her late father, Ming "Basayi" Chan-Henry.
The popular general dealer on Dr Jacob Zuma Drive was busy on Tuesday evening when the robbers entered the shop.
Evans describes the horrific ordeal that left a 45-year-old man dead.
Speaking to Grocott’s Mail the next day, Evans said it was around 6pm when the men came in and one started to close the door.
Two customers apparently mistook the man for a security guard and tried to leave after they’d finished their shopping.
"They asked him not to close the door," she said and the next thing she heard was a gunshot.
One of the customers fell backwards against the counter and, although in shock, she ducked behind the till and pressed the panic button.
Evans said it felt like hours before security guards arrived, even though the robbery lasted only a few minutes.
She said she probably knew the man who was shot, but it was difficult to make out who he was because of the injuries to his head.
"They turned the till around and emptied it," she said before the men fled the scene.
It all went by in such a blur that Evans said she only realised there had been two assailants when she saw the surveillance footage later.
In between serving customers on Wednesday, Evans told Grocott’s Mail it was the first time someone had tried to rob the shop since she inherited it last year.
"There were three robberies here [before]but then it was still my father who was running the shop. They shot straight at him once," she said.
"One thing my father told me: He said I must never try to apprehend robbers, I should just co-operate and do what they want," she added.
The police released a statement shortly after the incident, saying a case of murder and armed robbery is being investigated.
Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said details of the incident were still unclear.
She confirmed that one of the suspects had emptied the cash register of an undisclosed amount of money before fleeing.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact the Grahamstown detectives on 046 603 9111.
