‘Gang leader’ wounded in fatal assassination attempt

A SUSPECTED gang leader was wounded and another suspected gangster was killed during a shooting in Schauderville on Tuesday evening. Alleged Dustlifes co-head Wendell Petersen, 28, of Holland Park, was shot in the arm. Suspected senior gang member Ryan “Baas” Stafford, 28, was killed. Police believe the shooting was was a failed assassination attempt on Petersen by rival gangs. The incident brings the gangrelated death toll since last week to eight. According to police, the shooting happened at about 7.30pm in Glendinning Street in Schauderville, when a BMW with five occupants drove down the street. Spokeswoman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said: “According to witness reports, as the car drove down the street, a lone gunman appeared on the side of the road and opened fire. “Several shots were fired at the vehicle and the occupants jumped out in an attempt to flee. “The driver [Stafford] managed to run a few metres from the car, where he then collapsed and died, while the passenger [Petersen] was shot in the arm. “The three occupants in the back seat escaped unscathed.”

Police insiders said Stafford had been a senior member of the gang and Petersen’s right-hand man. In a separate incident two hours later, the body of Nathan Robile, 20, was found in bushes behind a house in Mpuko Street, Bloemendal. “It appears he was shot in the head and died on the scene. The police were alerted after a tipoff,” Janse van Rensburg said. “At this stage, all avenues are being investigated.” Police insiders have said the latest attempt on Petersen’s life and the murder of Stafford could possibly lead to a spike in gang retaliation attacks. Petersen, who has been arrested several times for gang-related shootings, is well known to both police and prosecutors. Earlier this year, rival gangsters shot at his house in a botched assassination attempt. He and suspected Fat Cats member Graven Greeff were arrested after they allegedly fired shots at each other in Stanford Road on March 22 last year. Petersen was shot, also in the arm, on August 13 2011 in Stag Street, Gelvandale.