14-year-old Keano Johnson died after being viciously attacked by alleged gangsters - because his friend was dating one of the gangsters' ex-girlfriend.
|||Cape Town - A schoolboy quarrel over a girl ended in the death of a teenager who was brutally beaten by a group of alleged gangsters.
Keano “Chucky” Johnson, 14, died on April 13, nearly two weeks after he was beaten into a coma by about four young men.
The assault comes after it was discovered that Keano’s friend, also 14, was in a relationship with the former girlfriend of one of his alleged attackers.
Keano’s friend, who was with him at the time, managed to escape but the dead teen was not so lucky.
An eyewitness says that it all started when the ex-boyfriend saw the new boyfriend wearing a ring which the ex had bought for the girl.
Moments later, Keano was attacked at a park near Venster Road, Heideveld.
The scared eyewitness tells the Daily Voice: “[The suspect] and [Keano’s friend] greeted and shook hands outside [the girl’s] house while she went into the toilet.”
“He must have seen the ring. Then [the suspect] told his friends to get [the boyfriend].
“[The suspect] slapped him then [Keano and his friend] ran but they got Keano and they jumped on his head.”
It’s believed the attackers are members of the Bad Boys gang.
The mother of Keano’s friend says she didn’t realise Keano and her son had gone to go fetch a girl.
The 50-year-old woman says: “They asked me if they could go get the girl but I didn’t answer them and was distracted by something else.
“A few minutes later, my son came to tell me they were attacking Keano.
“My nephew went to the park and rushed Keano to hospital,” she says.
Keano’s mother, who was too scared to be identified, says her son suffered severe head injuries.
“His skull was cracked and when I saw him I couldn’t believe what they did to my child.”
“He was in a coma for two weeks and to us it looked like he was going to be fine because he was moving.”
Police spokesperson Constable Noloyiso Rwexana says they are investigating a case of murder.
“The victim was assaulted and died due to his injuries,” she says.
“No one has been arrested at this stage.”
Daily Voice