Nightmare of a welcome to the city as student is killed for a cell phone.
A University of Johannesburg (UJ) student was killed on 11 January after being held up at gun and knifepoint with a friend for their cell phones. According to Jeanette Backoff, spokesperson for Brixton Police Station, the incident took place around 7.30pm. She said, “The two students from UJ were robbed on Ripley Street after parking the vehicle they were using at the university as they did not have parking space at their residence. On their way to the residence, they spotted a white BMW that was driving past them slowly.” The deceased had only been in Johannesburg for a week as he is originally from KwaZulu-Natal said Backoff.
The BMW then made a sudden U-turn, sped up to them and three males exited the vehicle. The surviving victim stated to the police that he saw them exit the car with two firearms and a knife and demanded their cell phones. The shocked students were then searched by the suspects and their car keys were taken from them. Backoff said, “It seems that the (later to be deceased) victim refused to hand over his cell phone and he ran away.”
The suspects jumped back into their vehicle and drove in his direction and caught up with him in no time and a scuffled ensued.
The witness then walked back to his friend to find him lying next to the gate at UJ breathing heavily. Backoff said, “He ran to the security officers to seek help. Paramedics were on the scene but declared the 17-year-old student dead on their arrival.”
Upon initial investigations, it was found he was stabbed in the chest.
Brixton police are currently investigating the case and have opened a case of murder. They are pleading with anyone with information to contact Warrant Officer Nawe on 011 248-5511/12.
