THE community of Parkwood is mourning the loss of a 27-year-old father who was reported missing and later found shot dead in Lake Road, Lotus River, on Friday.
Ashton Martin was last seen alive on Friday, 20 June, when he left home on his motorbike to visit pals.
According to his dad, Anthony de Kella, their last conversation was just after 1.50pm on that fateful Friday.
Ashton, who lived with his grandmother in Parkwood, told her that he would be sleeping at a friend’s house before leaving the house at 10pm.
His lifeless body was discovered on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Lake Road later that night, after police responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 10.52pm.
Anthony said that he only received the news on Monday morning when he went to report his son missing at the police station.
The hartseer pa explained: “The last time I spoke to my son was on Friday 1.50pm and I left him at home. He lives with his grandmother in Parkwood and he told her that he is not coming home, he is going to sleep at a friend’s house and he left home around 10pm.
“He first went to fetch clothes at someone’s house before going to his friends and on his way they shot him before 11pm on Friday.
“We were not aware of the shooting. I went to his grandmother to find out if she heard anything and she said nothing.
“Then I went to the police station on Monday morning to open a missing person’s case.
“I showed the secretary at the police station the details on my phone, his pictures, motorbike and the clothes he was last seen in. Then she checked the computer and said the information on the missing person poster matches the information on the computer.
“Then she said, ‘Ek is jammer om jou te sê, but jou kind is deceased’.
“His phone was off but he still had it in his pocket. He was lying on top of it, but his chain, bracelet and wallet was gone.”
Anthony said Ashton’s daughters are aged three and six years old and the tragedy has left the family devastated.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said Grassy Park detectives are investigating a murder case.
Police are appealing to anyone with any information about this shooting incident to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said Grassy Park detectives are investigating a murder case.
Police are appealing to anyone with any information about this shooting incident to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.