Witness recounts fatal Pinetown drive-by shooting

AN eyewitness to a drive-by shooting, that left one dead, shared details of the horrific incident with the Highway Mail.

Etienne Changuion said he was first in line at a red traffic light at the intersection of Josiah Gumede (Old Main) Road and St John’s Avenue when the shooting occurred.

“I stopped at the robot, on my way to fetch my kids. A white VW Polo sped up through traffic.  I heard four shots. I knew it was gunshots and I was hoping that they weren’t shooting at me. I thought it was a gunfight and hoped I wasn’t going to be caught in the middle of it. I curled into myself and tried to make myself as small as possible,” said Changuion.

The shooter’s vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla, drove past the eyewitness’s car. Before the shooters turned right and sped off towards the M13, the gunman fired another three shots at the white VW Polo.

“After that, he [the gunman] shot one bullet into the air. All of the other shots were aimed at the guy in the VW Polo behind me. He must have been in gear when he was shot at, because his car hit into the back of mine,” said Changuion.

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Changuion climbed out of his vehicle and approached the VW Polo with caution. The eyewitness said the victim had a head and neck injury and was dead.

“I am just glad that my children weren’t in the car when this happened. I am doing okay. It is not the shooting or the dead body that had me traumatised. It was the way a policeman on scene spoke to me. I told him my car was part of the crime scene but he didn’t gear down or ask if I was okay. He was furious. He shouted and swore at me to move away from the crime scene,” he said.

Changuion thanked the local CPF and Blue Security for their help and concern.

Pinetown SAPS has not yet responded to questions sent by the Highway Mail. 

The Highway Mail has published an update on the story here:  No arrests made for Pinetown drive-by shooting

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