Man arrested after biker rally shooting

Rudi Salo, 42, and 18-year-old Randy Burgess were shot dead at a bike rally in Hawston near Hermanus. Pictures: Facebook

Rudi Salo, 42, and 18-year-old Randy Burgess were shot dead at a bike rally in Hawston near Hermanus. Pictures: Facebook

Published Feb 8, 2016

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Cape Town - A biker rally in the Overberg turned tragic when a gunman opened fire in front of hundreds of people, killing two and wounding three on Sunday.

Rudi Salo, 42, and 19-year-old Randy Burgess were shot dead at about 6.30am at the 6th annual Steppies Rally in Hawston near Hermanus, allegedly by a 26-year-old arrested shortly afterwards.

Three people, including Burgess’s mother Rounita Burgess, 48, the acting station commander at the Hermanus police station, were wounded and rushed to hospital.

More than 2 000 people, many bikers, attended the rally.

Salo was a member of the Lee-Riders Motorcyle Club. Its president did not want to be named, but said Salo had been friends with his alleged killer.

Salo and the man were apparently involved in a physical altercation before Salo was shot, he said.

The club president said Salo got into a car with four others and as they were about to leave the gunman approached the car and opened fire: “Rudi and (he) were good friends and he waited for them to come out and then he ambushed them.”

Salo leaves behind six children, including a nine-month-old. His partner Shantoll Anthony said it was almost surreal Salo was dead. The family was in shock.

“Rudi had been riding for more than 20 years; it was his passion. I will have to take our seven-year-old to a counsellor and I will need help also. We will miss him,” Anthony said.

Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said: ‘‘According to reports, an argument occurred between the victims and the suspect and the suspect started shooting at the victims.

“The suspect is expected to appear in court facing murder and attempted murder charges.”

Tributes poured in on Facebook for Randy Burgess on Sunday.

Kay-Lee Burgess wrote: “No words can describe how we are hurting.

“RIP my dear sister, we miss you already. And mommy, just hang in there, God is in control.”

A 34-year-old man who was shot in the chest and arm is in a stable condition in Tygerberg Hospital.

The hospital's spokesperson, Laticia Pienaar, said the man was able to speak on Sunday. He has not yet been identified.

Carl Abrahams was at the rally and said he heard the gunshots, but like many people around him, he did not think much of it at first as it sounded like a motorcyle had backfired.

“The backfiring sounds were present all weekend so when the gunshots went off it did not sound much different.

“Only after a few seconds when people started running did my friends and I realise that someone had been shot. We left shortly after that,” Abrahams said.

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@FrancescaJaneV

Cape Times

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