A supermarket security guard was killed late last week following an altercation with a teen customer
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A New Zealand supermarket chain has been left reeling after one of its employees died following an altercation with a customer.
Goran Milosavljevic, who had worked for Countdown for around eight months, was allegedly attacked on Wednesday in the chain’s Papakura store.
The security guard is reported to have approached a 17-year-old customer amid concerns of suspicious behaviour but the teen responded by punching Milosavljevic in the head.
Milosavljevic was taken to Middlemore hospital but died of his injuries on Thursday morning.
Countdown managing director Dave Chambers said entire team is “deeply saddened” by the tragic loss.
"The safety of our people and customers is our absolute priority, and no New Zealander should go to work and not expect to return home to their loved ones,” he said.
“Our focus right now is to support the family and our team in whatever way we can,” he continued. “We’ve also made as much information and footage as we have available to the police and will continue to cooperate with their investigation."
The 17-year-old male has since been charged with manslaughter and will remain in police custody. He will next appear at the High Court at Auckland on May 23.
