Toddler critical after gang-related shooting

LATEST UPDATE (8 August 13:50)

It has been confirmed by Bishop Dulton Admas that Luke Tibbetts passed away at 12:20 on today.

LATEST UPDATE (8 August 11:45)

Contrary to reports made by ANN and The New Age, Luke Tibbetts is still on life support. Bishop Dulton Adams from the Church of Johannesburg Clearmont has confirmed in a telephone interview that the life support machines have not been switched off. Bishop Adams gave a statement alongside Gauteng Premier David Makhura on Tuesday. Warrant Officer TJ de Bruin, spokesperson for Sophiatown police station also confirmed that the last time he spoke to the family, the machines had not been switched off.

LATEST UPDATE (8 August 11.15am)

Despite numerous rumors and reports, Luke Tibbetts has not died, according a Tweet from @News24.

UPDATE (8 August 10.45)

Luke Tibbetts -the three year old boy that was shot in the head during an apparent gang fight in Westbury on 2 August, has died in hospital, according to reports by The New Age and ANN.

The New Age reported on Friday that Tibbetts died on Thursday evening when his life support was switched off.

ANN has reported that the family decided to switch off the life support machines yesterday and that they had a private service for him last night.

The toddler was sitting on his mother’s lap in the backseat of a car when a stray bullet hit him. “There was a back-and-forth shooting  between two groups of people on the corner of Statler and Croesus streets, Westbury. The family was driving by and one of the stray bullets hit the car and the toddler in it,” Warrant Officer TJ de Bruyn, spokesperson for Sophiatown Police Station reported.

After the incident, the shocked family rushed the four-year old to nearby Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. Luke had been on life-support at the Garden City Private Clinic and sustained brain damage.
A 26-year old man also passing by was shot in the arm, and has since been discharged from hospital.

Bystanders who witnessed the shooting identified the alleged culprit and reported him to the police, said Warrant Officer Gordon Billing.

Warrant Officer de Bruyn confirmed that a man (22) had been arrested in Westbury on Sunday in connection with the incident.

The man has been charged with the attempted murder and is expected to appear in the Sophiatown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.