A young man from Factreton has been shot and killed, allegedly by two 13-year-old boys who belong to the Clever Kids gang.
Justin Adams, 19, was struck three times in his upper right thigh and was rushed to hospital.
However, he passed away early on Friday morning in Groote Schuur Hospital
surrounded by family.
The attack happened just after 2.30pm on the corner of Lugmag Avenue and Albacore Street in Factreton.
According to his mother, Janice, 36, who has six other children, Justin had finally made the decision to “stop being naughty”.
BEREAVED: Mom Janine Adams, 36, of Factreton is being comforted
She says a few months ago, the teen, who had been running around with the gangsters trying to recruit him, told her he was moving out of the area to get away from the gangs.
“He changed so much over the last few months. I prayed and thanked God every day that my child saw the light,” she says.
“He went to church, played soccer to keep the smaller boys out of trouble and also worked at the soup kitchen at the Day Hospital to keep busy.
“He wanted to play soccer and he wanted to change his community.
“They killed my child for not wanting to be a
gangster,” she cries.
She says people were too scared to leave their homes after the shooting and Justin lay on the pavement bleeding for almost two hours.
“We sat on the pavement waiting for the ambulance for two hours. He was bleeding out after the main artery in his leg was hit. People would not help us get him to the hospital,” says Janice.
PASSED AWAY: Justin Adams, 19 died at Groote Schuur Hospital. File photo
At the hospital, doctors fought to save him but he had lost too much blood.
“They gave him blood, but they could not get it into him quickly enough. He could not recover.
“He told us who shot him and he told the investigating officer, but the two boys are still walking the streets.
“We got to be with him when he died. He told us (family) that he loved us and he looked at me and said, ‘ Mammie, ek wil huistoe gaan’, and then my boy was gone.”
The mother is now appealing to her community to stand up against gangsters who are trying to recruit their sons.
“I am waiting on the police to arrest the shooters. They have to be stopped,” she says.
PASSED AWAY: Justin Adams, 19. Picture supplied
Police spokesperson,
Captain FC van Wyk, says a case of murder is under investigation and no arrests have been made yet.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.