A teenager from Philippi has died after being caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting on Tuesday morning, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Ashin Brown (18) and his friend, who has only been identified as Michael (17), were standing in the street when two gunmen, believed to be members of the Americans gang, fired at members of the Inglorious Bastards gang, according to the Philippi Community Policing Forum (CPF).
Also read: Cape Town high schooler killed in gang crossfire
About 20 shots rang out, with two bullets hitting Brown, who died at the scene of the shooting, in the Kampies informal settlement in Philippi, as reported by News24.
The war between the gangs is believed to have been ‘going on for years’.
Brown’s aunt had the task of identifying his body at the Observatory state mortuary earlier this morning.
Michael was hit twice, with one of the bullets hitting ‘just below his heart’, and rushed to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Brown’s aunt, Melanie Hendricks, said that the family was in complete shock over Brown’s death.
‘How is it even possible that he would have been killed in such a gruesome and bloody manner? We are so devastated,’ said Hendricks.
‘Ashwin turned 18 a week ago and now he’s dead. Our hearts are broken; this boy did not deserve to die like this,’ Hendricks added.
According to Hendricks, Brown lost his parents two years ago and ‘was never the same’.
‘He was very close to his parents. The three relied heavily on each other to get through life’s difficulties. Ashwin was such a lovely child,’ said Hendricks.
‘I struggle to come to terms with how he was taken away from us in such a gruesome manner and at such a young age. He had his whole life ahead of him,’ Hendricks added.
She described having to identify Brown’s body as ‘very traumatic’.
‘One is never prepared for something like this. The one minute you see your loved one, and the next minute they die due to horrific incidents,’ said Hendricks.
She said her nephew was respectful and ‘always willing to help anyone in need’.
Captain FC van Wyk, Western Cape police spokesperson, stated that they were investigating a murder and attempted murder case.
‘The first male, aged 18, was fatally shot. He sustained gunshot wounds to his body. Medical personnel declared him deceased at the crime scene,’ said Van Wyk.
‘The second male, aged 17, sustained gunshot wounds to his body and was taken to hospital for treatment. Two unknown male suspects fled the crime scene on foot and are still at large,’ Van Wyk added.
Van Wyk said the motive for the incident was ‘yet to be determined’ and that police were not ruling out the fact that the incident could be gang-related.
In the mean time, police have urged the public to come forward with information regarding the incident.
Kashiefa Mohammed, CPF spokesperson, condemned ‘yet another senseless killing’ of a teen, referring to Brown’s death.
‘These gangs are ruthless. Yet another life was taken at the hands of gangsters who think nothing of killing innocent kids caught in these crossfires. How many more young people’s lives must be taken before we see that gangs and guns are problems in the Cape Flats?’ said Mohammed.
The CPF has called on the police to ‘act swiftly’ in apprehending the perpetrators responsible for the shooting.
Also read:
Picture: kat wilcox / Pexels
