South African rapper AKA killed leaving restaurant

Kiernan Forbes, one of South Africa’s most popular rappers known by the stage name AKA, was shot and killed leaving a restaurant in Durban, in the southeast of the country, it has been announced his family on Saturday.

“It is with extreme sadness that we learn of the passing of our beloved son.”, 35, wrote his parents Tony and Lynn Forbes on their Twitter account. South African hip-hop star AKA has won numerous awards in his country and was nominated once for an MTV Europe Music Award.

He was killed on Friday evening, along with another man by his side, as they had just left a restaurant and walked to their car. “They were reportedly approached by two armed suspects who crossed the street towards them and shot the victims at point-blank range”, police said in a statement. The motive is currently unknown and the police have opened an investigation.

Shootings are common in South Africa, which has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Many people are licensed to carry firearms for personal protection, but even more illegal weapons are in circulation.