Valentine’s Day murder shocks community
Jeandre Buson’s life was snatched by a bullet
Christabel Buson (42) and husband Nico Buson (43) recall the day their 20-year-old son’s life was snatched away by a bullet.
Christabel recalls the events vividly as she tells how a neighbour’s car stalled outside her home in Koos Human Street in Extension Six on February 14.
“We were sitting in the yard when we saw the car outside. My husband approached and offered to help push. My son and a friend were inside the house, preparing supper as we pushed the car to our neighbour’s home,” said Christabel Buson.
She said that, when they arrived at the neighbour’s home, they witnessed the husband and wife arguing and she (Christabel) decided to leave.
Tempers flared and Nico Buson left after the situation threatened to become physical.
A short while later they witnessed the neighbour’s wife speeding off, gesturing wildly as she passed their home.
The neighbour would return a few minutes later with her two sons, accompanied by two other men who, in a press statement by Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Wayne Minnaar, turned out to be an off-duty JMPD officer.
One of the men was wielding a garden fork which was allegedly used to stab Jeandre Buson’s friend. Christabel explains the family tried in vain to ward off the attack by closing the roller door to their carport.
Finally deciding to give in, they attempted to run into the house through the kitchen door when a gunshot felled 20-year-old Jeandre Buson.
Nico and Christabel are unclear about the number of shots fired and do not remember who fired the fatal shot, but the bullet hole in the carport wall and the dried blood on the parked vehicle are a grim reminder of the day’s tragic events.
Jeandre Buson was shot in the back of his head and was declared dead on the scene. The two off-duty police officers were arrested and placed into custody.
Minnaar said, “The JMPD officer will be investigated internally for having used a service pistol while he was off-duty.”
Extension Six residents were horrified at the senseless murder of a young, recently matriculated Buson over an incident which they feel could have been resolved amicably.
As the family mourns the death of their son, the Eldorado Park community are doing some soul searching and trying to come up with effective solutions to curb gun violence in the area.
