Johannesburg – A foreign shop owner has been arrested for the murder of a 17-year-old in Thokoza on Johannesburg’s East Rand, Gauteng police said on Friday.The youth was shot dead when a group of learners allegedly tried to break into his shop.
The incident took place around 16:30 on Thursday after a group of learners, who were on their way to Pretoria, turned back at the train station, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Katlego Mogale said.
“On the way back from the train station, they were singing and they went to a spaza shop which is owned by a foreign national.
“They kicked the burglar door and the owner pulled out a firearm. He fired into the group of learners, injuring the scholar.”
The learner was taken to a nearby clinic, but was declared dead on arrival, she said.
The firearm was not found on the scene, but police recovered some ammunition in the shop owner’s possession.
A bakkie belonging to another foreign national was set alight 500m from the crime scene, Mogale said.
One shop and three containers were also set alight. Three people were arrested for public violence.
PH
