Man shot dead with grandchild on his lap

A grandfather was murdered inside his home while his one grandchild sat on his lap and the other one sat in her walking ring in the doorway.

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Cape Town - A grandfather was murdered inside his home while his two-year-old grandchild sat on his lap.

Baren Virrooi, 55, was shot dead in full view of his two granddaughters inside his Scottsdene, Kraaifontein, home.

Tamia Bosman was sitting on her grandfather’s lap while her one year-old cousin sat in her walking ring in the doorway when gunmen entered the house in Park Lane on Tuesday afternoon.

Baren’s wife, Tilly Virrooi, 58, found her dead husband in a kneeling position in front of the couch he was relaxing in moments before he was killed.

On Wednesday the grieving widow said she doesn’t know why her husband of 35 years was “killed like a skollie (gangster)”.

“My man was nie eens ‘n skollie nie (My husband was not a gangster),” she said.

“He didn’t live like a gangster, why did they kill him like one?”

She said she was at Kuils River Magistrates’ Court with her grandson when they were called home.

“When I got home I found Baren in front of the couch, like he was praying,” she said.

Virrooi said her husband was shot at least six times. Miraculously Tamia was not harmed.

“We both love our grandchildren and if anything happened to them as well I would have died,” she said.

“He was alone in the house with them, while our son was in the back in his Wendy house.

“My son thought someone was knocking against something but then he realised it was gunshots.

“When he came inside he found his father dead and the children still inside.”

On Wednesday, Virrooi and her family were sitting outside.

“I don’t want to be inside and be reminded of where my husband died,” she said before entering the house.

She believes the gunmen were after her son-in-law, who she insists is also not a gangster.

A neighbour said they now fear retaliation attacks.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, said they didn’t see the killers.

“The washing on the line blocked the view so we couldn’t see who it was,” she said.

“After [Tuesday] we are all scared because you’re not even safe in your own house.”

Police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk a case of murder is being investigated and no arrests have been made.

“The possibility that this incident might be gang-related is being investigated,” Van Wyk said.

Daily Voice