‘ I saw the woman lift her gun ...’

A man was injured and scores of people ran for cover when shots were fired during a domestic dispute inside a Mr Price store at St George's Mall in Cape Town on Tuesday, the city's safety MEC said.

There was a dispute between a man and his girlfriend, who was a police reservist, said Albert Fritz.

When the boyfriend tried to grab her gun, she drew it and fired at him.

“We must commend her for her swift action,” he said.

It appeared he was shot in the chest. The man was carried from the store on a stretcher with bandages over his chest.

Fritz's spokesperson Melany Kuhn said the woman reservist had told the police she broke up with the man on Monday. The man apparently told the Xhosa-speaking woman he was going to come for her.

He approached her in the store and tried to grab her gun.

“There was a scuffle and in the process several shots were fired,” Kuhn said.

The man was shot during the altercation.

Shopper Bridgette Holman said she saw the man trying to grab the gun from the woman.

“We were just shopping and then there were shots going off. I saw the woman lift her gun and shoot,” she said.

During the initial panic customers believed there store was being robbed.

A woman ran out screaming: “He just came in there trying to rob them and just kept shooting, shooting, shooting.”

Several bullet holes were visible in the store's window.

A large crowd gathered around and watched.

Staffers were seen running backwards and forwards inside trying to prevent people from coming in.

After several gunshots were heard, screaming customers ran out in all directions.

The incident took place opposite the MEC's office.

By 1pm various police units were arriving at the mall. -

Sapa

• ‘He just kept shooting ...’