- Luke Fleurs, a 24-year-old South African footballer and Olympian, was killed in a hijacking incident in Johannesburg.
- Fleurs was shot in the chest at a petrol station and taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
- The assailants, in a white BMW, took Fleurs’s vehicle and fled the scene.
- South Africa is dealing with high crime rates, including a significant number of murders and hijackings.
- Fleurs had represented South Africa at the Tokyo Olympics and played for the national under-23 side.
- The incident has led to a murder and car hijacking investigation, with a manhunt for the suspects ongoing.
Kaizer Chiefs’ Luke Fleurs Shot Dead in Carjacking, a South African soccer star and Olympian, was tragically killed in a hijacking incident in Johannesburg on April 4, 2024. Fleurs, a 24-year-old defender, was shot while waiting to be attended to at a gas station in the Honeydew suburb of Johannesburg.
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The incident was reported by the police, who stated that the attackers pointed a firearm at Fleurs, took him out of his vehicle, and shot him once in the upper body. One suspect then drove off with Fleurs’ vehicle, followed by his accomplice. Fleurs was taken to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) are handling the investigation, which is classified as a case of murder and car hijacking. A manhunt for the suspects is ongoing, and no arrests have been made as of the reports 2. Fleurs had previously played for the national under-23 side, representing South Africa at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
He joined Kaizer Chiefs in October 2023, although he did not make a senior appearance for the side but had twice been an unused substitute. Despite receiving a call-up into the South Africa national team in 2021, Fleurs never made a senior international appearance but made three appearances for his country at the Tokyo Olympics.
The tragic incident has sparked tributes from various quarters. Sports Minister Zizi Kodwa expressed his sadness over the loss of another life due to violent crime and extended his thoughts to Fleurs’ family, the Amakhosi family (Kaizer Chiefs’ nickname), and the entire South African football fraternity.
Fleurs’ death comes amidst a backdrop of high crime rates in South Africa, with the country having one of the highest murder rates in the world. The latest official crime statistics from October-December last year showed 5,973 hijacking cases reported, and each day, 31 people are killed by guns in South Africa.
Kaizer Chiefs, one of South Africa’s top teams with a record 53 domestic trophies, expressed profound shock and sadness over Fleurs’ passing. The club’s management, players, and the technical team conveyed their heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this extremely difficult time.
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