Sergio in Marlene Gomes. (Photo: Facebook)
Sergio and Marlene Gomes, owners of the Totobola slaughterhouse, were shot dead on Friday evening after they rushed to their son’s aid.
According to a police statement, the couple learned that their son was the victim of a robbery at the slaughterhouse near their home in the Goldview neighborhood in Mahikeng, North West.
Upon their arrival at the premises, the couple encountered the suspects at the entrance and were shot.
The police were called and found blood stains and Marlene’s body on the pavement. Her husband, who also suffered gunshot wounds, was already rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
Sgt. Kelebogile Morake, police spokesperson, confirmed that a dedicated task force from the provincial murder and robbery unit has been assigned to investigate the case.
According to Morake, there were six masked men. The robbers allegedly forced customers in an office (which is used as a sitting and meeting place) and ordered them to lie on the floor. The customers were threatened, assaulted and robbed of their mobile phones. A laptop and an unknown amount of cash were also stolen, Morake said.
After this, the robbers fled in the family’s Ford Ranger. Earlier it was reported that the bakkie was found abandoned in the Magogwe informal settlement on Saturday morning. Some of the stolen mobile phones were also found in the field in the same area.
No arrests have yet been made.
Maroela Media contacted a son-in-law of the Gomes couple, but he indicated that the family would not grant any interviews.