South African soccer player killed in car hijacking

Former South Africa junior international Luke Fleurs, who played for the country's most popular soccer club Kaizer Chiefs, was killed in a carjacking in Johannesburg, police officials confirmed Thursday.

Fleurs, 24, was shot in the chest at a gas station Wednesday night and the assailants drove off in his vehicle.

"While waiting to be served by the attendant, he was confronted by two armed males," police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo told reporters, adding that no arrests had been made.

The centre-back played every minute for South Africa at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, and that same year was called up to the senior team for World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia, though he did not make it off the bench and was uncapped.

"We woke up to the heartbreaking and devastating news of the passing of this young life. This is such a huge loss for his family, friends, his teammates and football in general. We are all grieving this young man's passing," South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan said in a statement.

Zizi Kodwa, South Africa's Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture, said he was "saddened that yet another life has been cut short due to violent crime."

Fleurs joined Chiefs from SuperSport United in October, having come through the Ubuntu Football Academy in Cape Town.