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Tension simmered as a group of enraged people gathered outside a shop in Arbor Park, Newcastle, on Wednesday, 13 April 2022.
According to sources (The Newcastle Police, Community Policing Forum (CPF), Newcastle Crime Fighters Task Team, and security companies), law enforcement was notified of a potential looting incident brewing outside the shop on Wednesday afternoon.
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Newcastle Crime Fighter Task Team’s Imran Ghafoor explained, “I got a call that they (the community) were looting the store at the Arbor Park Shopping Centre. We dispatched members and notified other law enforcement members.”
Upon arriving at the store, law enforcement found that community members had surrounded the store, assaulting an employee.
Moreover, Ghafoor states that the SAPS and law enforcement immediately jumped into action, breaking up the fight and calming the situation down. He adds that two people were also taken into custody, and investigations are currently underway.
Allegedly, the incident stemmed from an altercation between a 16-year-old boy and an individual employed at the store.
While multiple stories are currently circulating about the death of the teenager, a resident who wishes to remain anonymous explained that a fight broke out between a person from the store and the boy, after the youngster allegedly attempted to shoplift.
“I had gone into the store and was busy leaving when I heard the two start arguing. The boy had apparently tried to steal something, and a fight broke out between the two, resulting in the man killing the child. It is a sad loss that the boy died simply because he took something that was probably not worth more than R20.”
According to the resident, the teenager’s death resulted in the community members storming the store.
Newcastle Police have been contacted for further comment and information about the ordeal. Nothing was forthcoming at the time of publication. However, Newcastle Police media liaison Lizzy Arumugam assured the Newcastillian – Online News that information would be shared in due course.
This is a developing article, and the Newcastillian -Online News will update the community once more information is available.
Additionally, the Newcastillian – Online News and Pixelfish Marketing extend our heartfelt condolences to the deceased’s family.
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