Three-Year-Old Killed in Suspected Gang Shooting in Hanover Park
In a heartbreaking incident, a three-year-old boy, Qadir Boer was killed after being struck by a stray bullet in what is believed to be a gang-related shooting.
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Child Dies After Stray Bullet Strikes
According to IOL, Qadir, who would have turned four soon, was hit by a stray bullet and rushed to the Red Cross War Memorial Hospital, where he later died in the early hours of Thursday morning.
His uncle, Abduragmaan Boer, said he received a call from doctors confirming the devastating news.
“The doctor called me around two, and he was already pronounced dead at that time,” he said.
Boer described how doctors had tried to save the young boy’s life, but the injuries were too severe.
“They told me my nephew was going in for an operation. The bullet hit his brain. This morning, the hospital people booked him to sleep, and later the doctor called me at 2am and told me he didn’t make it, and I had to break the news to my parents. My big brother, the father, he is beside himself; he doesn’t know whether he is coming or going,” he said.
‘It Happened So Quickly’
The three-year-old was reportedly at home when the shooting occurred.
“He was just buzzing around in the house, but then ended up outside. The father had been watching him, but he was busy with something inside the house. Sometimes things happen so quickly,” said Boer.
Family Finds Solace in Faith
As the family prepared for Qadir’s janazah (funeral), they spoke about finding strength in their faith despite the tragedy.
“Anyone can say it’s sad, but if you believe in God, then you know it’s God’s will. You can’t question God,” Boer said. “It’s painful. Yes, we are going to question why, why is God’s will in this way? Because this is a three-year-old, and he died like this.”
Community Outrage and Arrests
Community Police Forum spokesperson Kashiefa Mohammed said the tragedy had deeply shaken Hanover Park.
“That is the sad part that is happening in Hanover Park, that it has come to this stage where babies get killed. A three-year-old doesn’t know the sound of a gunshot. He doesn’t even know the word ‘violence’,” she said.
Mohammed confirmed that residents had assisted police in tracking down and arresting two suspects linked to the shooting.
“Two shooters were arrested yesterday because the Hanover Park community went to the police to take out the shooters,” she said.
‘Killing a Child Is Unacceptable’
Mohammed strongly condemned the senseless act, emphasizing that the young victim had done nothing to deserve such a fate.
“Killing a child is unacceptable. Those gangsters know who their enemy is. Why do they shoot when they see children playing in the road? Why did they take this child’s happiness away from him? One minute he had a smile on his face, and the next minute he was confused by where the pain came from. He still had a life to live,” she said.