A popular South African radio and club DJ has been shot dead in the country’s largest city, Johannesburg, sending shockwaves across a nation grappling with entrenched crime.
Warrick Stock, popularly known as DJ Warras, was gunned down in the city centre on Tuesday afternoon. Police report that the 40-year-old was approached by three suspects, one of whom opened fire before they fled the scene on foot.
The motive for the shooting remains unknown, and no arrests have yet been made; this incident marks the latest in a series of violent killings in a country burdened with high crime rates.
Fred Kekana, a local police chief, detailed that Stock was attacked right after leaving Zambesi House near the Carlton Centre. CCTV footage captured a shooter believed to be dressed in a security uniform. Although Stock allegedly had an unused firearm on him during the attack, nothing was taken from him.
Witnesses have been urged to provide information to help track down the suspects, with police emphasizing the length of the getaway on foot. His sister, Nicole Stock, expressed devastation over his death, highlighting the profound loss to their family and community, particularly to his three sons.
Stock was not only a well-known radio and TV presenter but also a passionate advocate who addressed significant social issues, making his murder even more tragic for many South Africans.
The circumstances surrounding his death have prompted widespread mourning, including statements from public figures and political leaders who commend his character and contributions to society, revealing the deep scars that such violence leaves on the community.
With South Africa's murder rate being alarmingly high, averaging around 63 deaths a day, DJ Warras’s murder reinforces the urgent dialogue on violence and its impact on society.