A man died after being shot at a car wash in Kraaifontein yesterday.
According to a witness, who did not want to be named, Denver “Mompelz” Petersen, 37, was waiting for his car to be washed at the Peerless Park shopping complex, when a gunman opened fire on him and a friend.
Mr Petersen and his friend had both run in the direction of Raan Street, but Mr Petersen had collapsed and died on the corner of Raan and Van Der Merwe streets, said Kraaifontein police spokesman Captain Hein Hendricks.
“The motive for the murder is still being investigated, and the deceased had no link to gang-involvement,” said Captain Hendricks.
Mr Petersen’s heartbroken eldest sister, Verohgen Atkins, said the family was battling to come to terms with her brother’s death.
She described him as a “loving and respected person”.
“My brother always wanted to know if everyone else was doing okay. He was very caring,” she said.
A barber who rents a space at the shopping complex said he was shocked when his employees told him about the incident.
“I have been working from here for almost seven years and this sort of thing never happened here; it’s scary.”
Many shops had had to deal with attempted armed-robberies in the past, forcing them to close earlier than usual, he said.
“Around here we close our shops before it becomes dark, and businesses here lose out because many of our customers return from work when it’s dark.”
Kraaifontein police could not confirm the attempted robberies at the shopping complex but urged witnesses to come forward with information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrator.
Anyone with information can contact Kraaifontein police investigators at 082 469 3319.
