Gangs suspected in death of teen bystander

A PROMISING soccer star and Eerste River resident was shot and killed while attending an illegal car spinning event in Pella Street at the weekend.

Shots were fired at the event in a suspected gangrelated shooting behind a shopping centre at about 6pm on Sunday. Sixteen-year-old Keagan Overmeyer, who was a bystander, was hit. Six other people were rushed to hospital.

The situation in the area is “volatile” as gangsters fight over drug turf, according to the area’s Community Policing Forum (CPF).

Eerste River CPF chairperson Julian Unthank said the incident was “very sad”, adding that Overmeyer had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“This is an issue over which we have been battling with the centre management for about five years now,” he said.

Unthank said this was not the first shooting incident at the location.

“It is the first killing, which is very unfortunate. We have engaged with traffic, law enforcement and the Metro Police to stop these events happening, but to no avail.

“I will be engaging with centre management again during the week, and with the private property owner.

“The property where the event is held is privately owned,” said Unthank.

He urged parents to discourage children from attending the illegal events, which are hosted every Sunday.

“Some of the people who attend these events drink and use drugs.

“There are no ablution facilities, and it is unsafe. We understand that people say there are no other recreational facilities in the area, but we need to do it lawfully,” said Unthank.

“What is even more disturbing is that the other people who were injured during the incident do not want to pursue the cases,” he said.

Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said: “The circumstances regarding the shooting are under investigation.

“Six other victims aged between 11 and 27 year were taken to hospital for treatment.”

Cases of murder and attempted murder were under investigation, but no arrests had yet been made.

Centre management were not available for comment at the time of publication.