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Toy gun used in hostage drama
23/06/2007 07:50 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A toy gun was used in an eight-hour hostage drama at a salon in Vanderbijlpark, Vaal Rand police said on Saturday.
"The gun he used to take seven people hostage was not real," said Captain William Mcera.
The man held seven people hostage at Merle's Hair Boutique in Attie Fourie Street from 16:00 on Friday until 02:00 on Saturday.
From the information they received, police were under the impression that the gun was real.
"We were convinced that the suspect was a threat to the life of the last hostage, Lidia Jacobs, after he demanded that a car be brought to the door of the salon and that its doors be left wide open while it was to be kept idling.
"All indications were that he was going to take the woman with him and police could not risk that," said Mcera.
Police then fired a shot and the hostage-taker was killed.
Mcera said the man was a South African citizen, about 21 or 22 years old.
His identity could not be released immediately.
The motive for the hostage was not known.
"It was seemingly a robbery," Mcera said.
He said police had already given the man part of the R50 000 he had demanded. It was obtained from the safe in the salon.
The drama started at 16:15 on Friday when what witnesses described as a cross-dresser produced a firearm and took the owner of the salon in Attie Fourie Street, Merle Scheepers, and six other people hostage.
Sporting big sunglasses, he demanded a ransom of R50 000 and a car. He subsequently released Scheepers and five other hostages, retaining one.
Police task force members and hostage negotiators earlier descended on the cordoned-off area.
Said Scheepers' husband, George: "He asked for the keys to the safe. I think it's an inside job."
Merle Scheepers recognised her captor as a robber who had held her at gunpoint in the salon and demanded money, jewellery and cellphones on May 24, he said.
Two women on the scene recognised the man as one in pictures police circulated after the previous robbery.
"The police showed us photos of him [then] and today he was walking through the corridor dressed in women's clothing with big sunglasses on," said a woman who refused to be named.
She said the man was "trying to walk like a woman".
A woman who answered the phone in the salon said she was "very scared".
"He's holding a gun to us."
The woman said she was answering the phone to speak to the police.
Fearing for the life of the last hostage, police shot and killed the man around 02:00 on Saturday, bringing to an end the eight-hour hostage drama.
"It's over, he is no longer," said Mcera.
All the hostages were safe, he said.
The interior of Merle's Hair Boutique looked a mess as police quickly placed a white sheet across the front door, blocking onlookers' view to the black and white interior of the salon.
A crowd gathered outside the salon behind police lines watching as the hostage drama drew to a close.
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