Teenager shot and killed during robbery

Teenager shot and killed during robbery
Keanu Bardenhorst

Lelanie Storm was drinking coffee with her son, Keanu Bardenhorst, in the early hours on Thursday August, 27, 2015, in their home on a smallholding east of Pretoria, not knowing that he would die a few minutes later in her arms.

A heartbroken Storm (41) told Maroela Media Keanu (17) came home after his shift at The Grub Father restaurant, Mooikloof just after midnight where he worked as a waiter. Storm has been living in the Welbekend area her whole life and moved some 12 years ago to the home on the Bashewa smallholding in Garsfontein road where Keanu was killed.

“We drank coffee together, and he ate something. I went to sleep about 01:00,” Storm said.

Apparently, two robbers gained access to the house through a bathroom window after they cut a hole in the fence. Three robbers were waiting outside the house.

When she opened her bedroom door, a robber waited in the hallway for her and pointed a gun at her. “I closed my bedroom door but he kicked opened the door. They dragged me and Leandrie into the living room. I saw Keanu lying on the living room floor near the front door and he was shot.”

Storm said Keanu was very fond of her and his sister, was not afraid and would do everything in his power to protect them. She suspected he was actually shot in an attempt to protect them.

“I heard a faint sound, but did not know there was a shot discharged.”

The robbers forced Lelanie to unlock the front door, and the other three robbers entered the house.

Lelanie and Leandrie’s hands and feet were tied with cable ties. Keanu constantly said he was battling to breathe. The robbers ransacked the house of all valuables, even a fan which stood in Leandrie’s room.

They demanded the keys of Lelanie’s bakkie, a Mihandra, and then loaded their loot and fled. It was about 02:00.

Leandrie managed to untie herself and also untied her mother. Storm run to her son and tried to pick him up, but he was too heavy.
“He again said he couldn’t breathe properly. His last words were, “I’m going to die now.”

She was told at the state mortuary that a bullet hit Keanu under his ribs into his main artery. He bled to death internally.

Storm said her son was not in school. He worked as a waiter and she would have taught him later to help her in the building industry.

“He was very technical orientated and loved woodworking. He was always diligent and helpful and would have done anything for me and his sister. He had a heart of gold. Everyone, with whom he came into contact, liked him.”

She said he had an interest for motorcycles, guns and knives. “Oh … and girls… He grew up with women, so he knew how to treat them nicely,” she joked sadly.

Police are investigating a case of murder and robbery. Nobody has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Source – Maroela Media

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