Tragic death of 3 ‘at wrong place’

Singer and friends killed in suspected gang retaliation shooting

HE WAS preparing his sermon for Father’s Day when he heard the loud sound of gunfire. Knowing his son was standing with friends outside the house he rushed out, but it was too late.

Well-known gospel singer Pastor Wilmot Fredericks recounted how he found his son gasping for breath after gunmen opened fire, killing him and two of his son’s friends as they were standing outside their house in Bishop Lavis.

Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said: “Three victims were shot while standing outside the address. Two died on the scene while the third victim died in hospital. Circumstances surrounding the deaths of three men are under investigation.”

Fredericks said his son Wilton, 31, and his younger brother were supposed to share the stage with him on Father’s Day, singing.

“I knew my son was out there. I had left him standing with a group of his childhood friends. I ran out towards the scene only to find that people were going in the opposite direction.

“I found my son lying there. It seemed it wasn’t a serious wound, but as I was encouraging him to remain conscious I could see he was struggling to breathe. He told me ‘Ek kan nie’,” said the pastor.

He said within minutes paramedics arrived and Wilton was transported to Elsies River Day Hospital where he died shortly after entering the trauma unit.

Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson Graham Lindhorst said it was suspected that the shooting was in retaliation for last month’s Belhar and Elsies River shootings. He said: “We are shocked to hear Wilton was also attacked in this senseless shooting. He has no gang affiliation but stays in the same road. He was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Lindhorst said he was a family friend of the Fredericks. “I had recently employed Wilton at my place of work. He was a very friendly person who smiled at everyone. He was soft-spoken,” said Lindhorst.

Wilton is survived by his parents and three children. The Fredericks family are known for their talent in gospel music. The pastor described his son as the “real singer” in the family. “He was never in trouble with police, he had never been arrested. He was standing at that place like I would; speaking to people he grew up with.

“He was at the wrong place at the wrong time. It could’ve been me because it is in my nature to laugh and speak to everyone,” said Fredericks.