The community of Lentegeur is in mourning after two innocent teen boys, both 15, were caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting on Tuesday night.
Dalin Scheepers was shot in both his arms and his left buttock and is recovering in hospital, while his friend, Mahir Jardine, was shot once in the chest and died on the scene, just a few houses away from his front door.
Both boys play soccer for Lentegeur City Football Club and were well-known in their community, with residents describing them as “good boys”.
They had gone to the shop near their homes in Bignonia Street just after 9pm.
Relatives say they were best friends since they were little.
Dalin was in Grade 9 at Aloe High School, while Mahir was also in Grade 9 but at Ned Doman High School.
According to witnesses, a white bakkie had pulled up in the street as the boys were passing a group of men standing in the road, and six men in the bakkie opened fire.
The boys tried to run for cover, but could not get away.
They were the only ones hit in the shooting.
At the family’s home on Wednesday, Mahir’s ouma said his mother was at the morgue and his father, who was away on work, was on his way home from the airport.
“We heard the shots and when it died down, we heard people shouting ‘it’s Mahir’,” the hartseer ouma says.
“He was shot once in the chest and he died there.
“He was a good boy and full of life. He played soccer, watched sport religiously and loved to play pool.”
The besties were caught in the crossfire in Lentegeur. Picture : supplied
Meanwhile, dad Jason Scheepers, 41, had just returned home from seeing his son, Dalin, in hospital.
Jason says he rushed out after the shooting and was shocked to see the two bloodied boys.
“I got to Dalin and just held him, telling him to hold on. He kept saying he was OK, but he was in so much pain,” he says.
“We keep the children from all these elements that make our community unsafe, but even the innocent can be hurt.
“An off-duty paramedic had his emergency bag with him and dressed Dalin’s wounds, making him comfortable until the ambulance came. I am very grateful for his help,” the father adds.
“I am not sure how he will deal with losing Mahir. They have been friends for almost their entire lives. I hope this will not destroy him.”
SAPS spokesperson, Siyabulela Malo, said cases of murder and attempted murder are under investigation with no arrests so far.
“It is alleged that six unknown men approached them and started to fire shots at both victims,” Malo said.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Lentegeur SAPS or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.