The police have opened an inquiry into the death of a 19-year-old matric pupil who collapsed and died in front of his home in Impala Street, Verwoerdpark on Sunday night.
THE POLICE have opened an inquiry into the death of a Grade 12 pupil, Amogelang Assegai, 19, who collapsed and died in front of his home in Impala Street, Verwoerdpark on Sunday night.
Neighbours claimed that they heard a single gunshot, although there were no bullet wounds or blood visible on his body.
“We found him lying on the pavement, while his cellphone was on the ground. We tried to resuscitate him but it appeared as if he was no longer breathing. We did not see any cartridges lying around in the street.”
Some residents said they spotted a car circling the neighbourhood prior to the incident.
It is believed that the incident took place following an argument over another pupil’s cellphone, when a group of uninvited guests gatecrashed a valedictory after party on Friday night.
Assegai’s friends indicated that a fight broke out after the gatecrashers were chased away.
“They left and a while later one of the boy’s fathers returned to the house in search of his son’s missing cellphone.”
They added that Assegai received a phone call on Sunday, while he was making tea for his mother, shortly before they heard the gunshot.
“He must have gone outside to give them the cellphone at around 8.15pm when a loud bang went off. It definitely sounded like a gunshot and not a car that was back-firing. His death was so unnecessary – he had his whole life ahead of him and he was about to write his final exams.”
They described Assegai as a humble and quiet person who would never pick a fight with anybody.
“He attended Kimberley Boys’ High School, was very popular, peace loving and was well known.”
The family of the deceased indicated that they would issue a statement at a later stage.
The police on Monday stated that an inquiry had been opened and that a post-mortem would be performed to determine the cause of death.