THE community of Eureka Estate in Elsies River has been left shattered after a well-known young man was gunned down at the shop on Monday evening.
Eduardo van der Westhuizen, 22, was sent to the shop to buy bread and electricity in Athena Road around 7pm when unknown gunmen pulled up in a maroon Jeep.
It is reported that the gunmen got out of the vehicle and 'emptied the gun' on him.
When the Daily Voice reached out to the family, his mother was too heartbroken to talk, as he was her only child.
Grandmother Hazel Fortuin said the tragedy has left the family stukkend after they commemorated the death of Eduardo’s father, who was also a victim of gun violence two years ago, on Sunday.
The hartseer ouma said: “The shop is not far from our house, just around the corner. Eduardo left to buy bread and electricity when according to eyewitnesses a car came and opened fire.
“Just after the gunshots went off, his mother said ‘gaan kyk’ because she knew her son went to the shop and that was when people started shouting that Eduardo got shot. He is his mother’s only child and she was very protective of him.
“My grandchild was not a gangster, he loved playing with the children in the community. We have rival gangs who live in the same area so there is constant shooting in Eureka Estate.
“I don’t believe it was mistaken identity because he is known in the community and they know he is not a gangster, I think they just came to prove a point.
“I hope that the perpetrators will get caught because this is not the first innocent person shot dead.”
A resident, who knew Eduardo, said that she was forced to keep her children at home because of the ongoing shootings in the area.
She told the Daily Voice: “Eduardo was a beautiful soul, this comes as a shock to all of us who knew him. We heard the gunshots go off and it sounded like they emptied the gun on him.
“My youngest son is traumatised by these shootings, he could not sleep at all. I was forced to keep my children at home because there are constant shootings.”
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that a murder case was opened for investigation.
Van Wyk said: “Ravensmead SAPS members attended a shooting in progress in front of a premises in Athena Road, Eureka Estate. On arrival they found a 22 year old victim lying in the road with multiple gunshot wounds to his head and upper body.
“The victim was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel. According to reports a maroon Jeep with five occupants stopped and three of them got out and started to shoot and drove off.
“The motive for the shooting is the subject of the investigation. The unknown suspects fled the scene and they are yet to be arrested.”