Over 200 clients watched an armed robber shoot their fitness trainer in the head during a live-streamed Zoom training session.

Lawrence Masinge, a fitness instructor from Pretoria in the South African province of Gauteng, was killed during a video-call exercise session with over 200 customers on the evening of 10th November.

Masinge, who had nearly 4,000 followers on Instagram, was shot dead in a suspected armed robbery.

One client, who wished to remain anonymous out of concerns for her safety, said she entered the Zoom session at about 6.30pm and heard the first gunshot nearly 40 minutes later.

While taking part in the training session, she “heard a loud banging sound and ran to see what is happening and that’s when my husband ran to the screen and said ‘this guy is getting shot’”.

She said Zoom participants were trying to find out where Masinge lived and one woman called the emergency services on her phone, adding: “Forty minutes later he was still just lying there cold and the police arrived with the paramedics.”

Other clients took to social media to demand justice for the murdered fitness coach.

Netizen ‘Hottiie_Spaiinn’ tweeted: “Last night Lawrence Masinge was shot while on a Zoom meeting in the head and the suspects continued to rob the place but the number plate was seen on cameras. Please retweet and help raise awareness about this matter.”

Online users are also using the hashtag ‘justiceforlawrencemasinge’ to make sure the local authorities thoroughly investigate the trainer’s death.

‘Phuthi85’ commented: “Last night I witnessed the most horrific scene ever… We were being trained by an amazing trainer Lawrence Masinge and he was brutally murdered live mid Zoom cardio session. I pray for his family to be comforted.”

The victim was involved in a community programme to encourage youngsters to take part in sports and exercise that was supported by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

The local authorities have yet to comment on the incident at the time of reporting.