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Man killed for empty bank bags
01/12/2006 12:01 - (SA)
Matt Saville
Durban - Three armed robbers killed a Durban man on Thursday and fled with empty bank bags.
Peter Bishop died after being shot in the chest in the Northdene area in broad daylight.
Director Johan Booysen of Durban's serious and violent crime unit said Bishop, who was in his sixties and owned a small security firm, had been to the bank to collect cash, but the money was not ready and he was going to return in the afternoon.
He was on his way home when the incident took place.
Police spokesperson inspector Rani John said Bishop, who was driving a Hyundai Tucson, took the Northpark off-ramp from the M7 and stopped in the left hand lane when a white BMW pulled up on the right-hand side of the vehicle.
Booysen said a man jumped out of the BMW and came to the driver's window, where he shot Bishop at "point blank" range.
"No questions were asked, the suspect just fired," said Booysen, who said this was confirmed by an eyewitness.
John said Bishop was dragged out of the vehicle, with the three suspects ransacking it and pulling the bank bags out, in the hopes of making off with cash.
Police vehicle shot at
While the suspects were busy ransacking the vehicle, a Kranskop police vehicle, which had been in the area to drop off some papers, drove past after hearing the shot.
This caused the suspects to panic and two men with AK47s fired on the police vehicle.
"There were bullet holes in the police vehicle, but fortunately none of the officers were injured," said Booysen.
The police were unable to return fire.
John said the suspects grabbed the bank bags from the Tucson and fled. The three men were still at large. The Durban serious and violent crime unit are conducting investigations.
Booysen said eyewitnesses saw Bishop walk along the road for a while, as the robbers opened the doors and boot of his vehicle and ransacked it, before he collapsed on the driver's side of his vehicle.
Chris Botha of Netcare 911 said that despite attempts by paramedics to resuscitate him, Bishop died on scene.
Booysen said he has known Bishop, who was once a police reservist, and his family for 20 years. He said it was incredibly difficult to break the news to Bishop's wife, Cybil.
- The Witness
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