A bullet hole on the fence of a backyard in Westbury, where five people were shot, including Reece.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
It was around 3pm when Reece’s father ran outside the house after hearing gunshots in the street. Knowing that Reece had just gone out with his friend, he felt his stomach knot as he rushed outside.
He was met with the piercing scream of a young boy running around the corner: "IT’S REECE!"
On Thursday evening, gunmen opened fire in the Westbury, Johannesburg, area, leaving five people wounded, including a 15-month-old baby, in what residents believe was a gang-related attack.
Two victims have since been confirmed dead, one of them is 19-year-old Reece, and the other is an adult female, the mother of the 15-month-old child. The shooting has once again intensified fears in the community, where residents say innocent bystanders are often caught in the crossfire of ongoing gang violence.
According to Gauteng police, the victims were standing at the corner of Larkspur Court and Jacaranda Court when an unknown number of suspects opened fire on them. All five victims sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to the hospital, where the adult woman was declared dead on arrival.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said the motive for the shooting remains unclear. "The motive of the shooting is still unknown as the investigation into murder and attempted murder continues," she said.
The grieving father, who did not want to be named, recalls the moment he realised what had happened.
"I jumped inside my car immediately and drove to the backyard where his body was lying. It took me less than five minutes to get to him and take him to the hospital. I was told by one of the boys that they were instructed to run by the shooters, and as they were running, they were shot at."
Reece’s father said the community believes the shooters were linked to gangs, who may have been looking for someone.
"They were looking for whoever they could find, not knowing who they were shooting at. They were not looking for a baby. They were not looking for my son. None of those people involved was part of a gang. This is a shooting where people were targeted to instil fear in the area and to make an example out of them."
Reece’s father spoke in a hoarse voice, tears streaming down his face.
"Reece spent the last four hours of his life trying to make sense of what had happened to him, wondering why he was shot, who those people were, and what he did to deserve this. He died at 7 that night."
He said hospital staff did everything they could to save his son’s life, but the violence that plagues the Westbury community claimed another victim.
"No one understands why any of the individuals were shot because they were random. My son has just died for nothing."
Reece was shot five times.
"It doesn’t make sense," said the emotional father said.
"How is it possible that someone like Reece can be brutally shot like that for absolutely no reason? They didn’t care to know who they were looking for."
Reece’s father said his son was conceived when he was 18 years old and the two grew up very close.
"We grew up together," he said.
After Reece matriculated last year, he was excited about his future.
But the family says their experience with police after the shooting has been deeply frustrating.
"The service we got from the police station has been ridiculous. When we got there, they asked us questions like, ‘What more do you want to know about your son?"
"Is there nothing more to the fact that he was shot and died?"
He said police asked the family whether they had witnesses who could come forward.
"Asking us as the victims if we have witnesses to bring to the police station, everyone understands that in Westbury, you get shot and that’s where it ends. How can they ask us this?"
"You get shot, and it becomes paperwork. Police just turn it into that, and it’s over," said Reece's father.
Fear in the community prevents many people from speaking out. "No one wants to testify against these people. People are living in fear of their lives because even being seen at the station can end with you being dead. Witnesses die, and so do victims."
Reece leaves behind his family and four siblings, all mourning his loss.
"He was an amazing boy and an amazing brother, with an amazing future ahead of him. They made a terrible example of my son. Taking him out in the street like that just to show this community how good boys can end up."
On Saturday morning, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia visited Westbury following the shooting. He stopped at the Sophiatown police station and later visited the hospital, where a 15-month-old baby and other victims are still fighting for their lives.
Speaking during the visit, Cachalia said stronger action against gang violence was needed.
"We cannot allow communities like Westbury to live under the fear of gangs," he said.
He added that police would intensify operations to ensure that those responsible are arrested.
"We are working with police leadership to ensure that those responsible are tracked down and brought to justice."
The minister did not engage directly with families affected by the shooting.
At the time of speaking to Reece’s family, they said they were still waiting for the minister to visit them.
"The minister came to show face and he will be back when another 10 people get shot, to show face and clean up," said Reece's father, who fears his son’s case could become another cold case.
The family is planning a night vigil in the street where Reece and others were shot. More details will be shared.