South African Footballer Luke Fleurs Shot Dead in Attempted Carjacking

South African Soccer Player Luke Fleurs Shot Dead in Attempted Carjacking — *(Photo: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)*

South African football team Kaizer Chiefs announced that one of its players, Luke Fleurs, was reported to be shot dead in a carjacking incident.

According to the team, the 24-year-old was waiting to be attended to at a gas station in the Johannesburg suburb of Florida when he was approached by unknown gunmen who ordered him to get out of the vehicle.

One of the suspects fled the scene with Fleurs's car after the shooting.

"The suspects pointed [at] him with a firearm and took him out of his vehicle, then shot him once on the upper body," Gauteng police spokesperson Lt. Col. Mavela Masondo told local media.

The Chiefs said that the player's death was "tragic."

"The [South African Police Service is] handling the matter and further details will be communicated in due course," the team wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "May his dear soul rest in peace."

According to local media, fleurs began his career in 2013 at the Ubuntu Cape Town Academy. He played at South Africa's Premier Soccer League (PSL), joining the Kaiser Chiefs last year after playing with SuperSport United. He also represented South Africa's under-17 and under-23 national teams in 2016 and 2021, respectively.