Luke Fleurs, a former South African junior international footballer, has been shot dead in a carjacking incident in Johannesburg, as confirmed by police authorities on Thursday.
The 24-year-old footballer was fatally shot in the chest at a petrol station on Wednesday night, while the perpetrators fled the scene in his vehicle.
Fleurs, who primarily played as a centreback, showcased his skills representing South Africa in all matches during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Subsequently, he received a call-up to the senior team for World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia later that year, although he did not have the opportunity to step onto the field.
Tributes pour in for Luke Fleurs
“While waiting to be served by the petrol attendant, he was confronted by two armed males,” SAPS spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo said, adding no arrests had been made yet.
“We woke up to the heartbreaking and devastating news of the passing of this young life. This is such a huge loss for his family, friends, his teammates and football in general. We are all grieving this young man’s passing,” SA Football Association president Danny Jordaan said.
Sport, arts & culture minister Zizi Kodwa said he was “saddened that yet another life has been cut short due to violent crime”.
