Gauteng police are investigating a murder that claimed the life of a 38-year-old man.
- Gauteng police are investigating a shooting that claimed the life of a 38-year-old man in Florida, west of Johannesburg.
- It is believed that the man was Fast Guns gang leader Keenen Sheldon Ebrahim.
- A Westbury resident told News24 that they lived in fear amid ongoing shootings in the area.
Suspected Fast Guns gang leader Keenen Sheldon Ebrahim was shot dead in Florida, west of Johannesburg, on Thursday.
A resident, who declined to be identified, told News24 that he was shot in revenge for the murder of a boy in Westbury last week.
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“An innocent boy was killed last week in Westbury. That is the cause of the [gang] rivalry we are witnessing now. They’re still shooting in Westbury. It’s like a warzone now. I would not advise anyone to drive into Westbury because it’s volatile at the moment.”
He later added: “Shootings have been happening in Westbury between rival gang groups. Innocent people get killed. Last week, they killed an innocent lady and an innocent boy.
“We call it revenge, meaning if you kill one of my family members, they get revenge by killing one of their rivalries. Now that they’re still shooting, more innocent people will get killed. How long will we live in fear as Westbury residents? Children live in fear.”
READ | Prominent Eldorado Park anti-gang activist murdered in suspected hit
Messages circulating in community chat groups warned residents against leaving their homes.
The message read:
Please tell your families to steer clear of the Westbury side. They are shooting and running through the flats. It’s a bit crazy this evening. Keenen, leader of the Fast Guns was shot on 14th Avenue. It was brutal. Please stay away and tell everyone to stay inside as much as possible.
Commenting on the shooting in Florida on Thursday, police spokesperson, Colonel Mavela Masondo, said the occupants of a silver Jetta 6 fired shots at a white Mercedez-Benz.
The driver of the Mercedes-Benz lost control of the vehicle and hit a pavement.
“Paramedics were called to the scene and took the victim to the nearest medical care centre, where he was declared dead,” Masondo said.
He said the motive for the killing was under investigation.
A “Fast Guns”leader was shot dead on the West Rand today. Yesterday, a friend of his was also shot dead. There are now fears of reprisal attacks. Viral messages are asking residents of Westbury, Newlands and Eldorado Park to be on their guard- fearing more gang violence. pic.twitter.com/ugid81q68F
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) February 23, 2023
In October 2019, Ebrahim was tried for the murder of 20-year-old Bradley Sauls. He and nine co-accused appeared in the Gauteng High Court, sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court. Two police officers, Warrant Officer Wynand Steyn and Sergeant Tom Keet appeared alongside them.
They faced a string of charges, including murder, attempted murder, corrupt activity relating to a public officer, defeating the ends of justice, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, intimidation, and aiding and abetting criminal activities.
Sauls was not a gang member. It is alleged he killed Royce Marco Palmer, a Fast Guns member, at Newclare Primary School in Westbury on 24 July 2018.
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