Apparently they were defending their stores when the suspected looters rammed them with their car. Leaders are appealing for calm, and warning of inter-communal violence if those responsible are not brought to justice fast.
A witeness said “Of course it was deliberate. No way was it an accident. The driver went on to the pavement and rammed them. He knew what he was doing.” Another witness ran to help the victims and discovered one of them was his son. The article does not directly state but seems to imply that the driver was African.
A suspect has been arrested but not yet charged, says the WSJ.