KEMPTON Park residents have expressed their shock and grief on social media after a Glen Marais father was murdered in front of his family while trying to protect them from armed intruders.
Wimpie Gadney (41), who worked for ABSA as an ATM services manager in Pretoria, was shot and killed on Monday in an attempted hijacking on Apiesdoring Street in Glen Marais.
He died while trying to defend his wife, Janine and the couple’s two children.
Police confirmed the incident happened at about 5pm.
The family had just arrived home. Wimpie had already gone inside the house. Janine was closing the gate while their two daughters were inside the car.
“Three men approached her and she screamed,” Capt Jethro Mtshali, Kempton Park SAPS spokesman, said.
Gadney, hearing his wife’s screams, went outside and tried to fight off one of the suspects, but while the fight continued, one of the other intruders fired a shot that fatally wounded Gadney.
The suspects immediately fled on foot.
Condolences on Kempton Express’ Facebook page continue to pour in for the former Hoërskool Birchleigh student, who has been described as a generally “nice guy”.
Leigh-Ann Bonaconsa, wrote: “Those kids and mother must be devasted. And they managed to get away with nothing. That family saw their father killed because of the way we have to live. That father is a hero, he wasn’t going to let anything happen to his family. My heart is so broken for them.”
Armando Loureiro wrote: “We knew him well and he was such a nice guy.”
A comment on EXPRESS’ website reads: “This is the most devastating news; my heart bleeds for this family. There but for the Grace of God go I. It is time that these criminals are taken off our streets. No child should live without a dad just because some person decides to try and take what is not theirs to take. I appeal to the police and all other possible law enforcement agencies. Please do something about this every increasing scourge that is taking hold of our city.”
According to an anonymous source, the family had only moved into the neighbourhood a couple of months ago.
“I never really knew them well but he would wave hello every time he drove past,” the source said.
Gadney was declared dead Arwyp at 6.30pm.
A case of murder and attempted hijacking was opened.The police appeal to anyone who might have information on what happened to call 08600 1011 or send an sms to the crime line on 32211.
