Former radio DJ Warrick Stock, known on air as DJ Warras, was shot and killed outside the Carlton Centre in central Johannesburg, police and witnesses said.
Police said Stock was approached by three unknown suspects after parking his vehicle and was shot before the attackers fled on foot. Initial accounts circulating on social media and among colleagues said he had been inspecting a building guarded by his security company and was fired on after stepping outside.
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The shooting, which occurred in a busy commercial area of downtown Johannesburg, prompted an immediate police response and a cordon at the scene. Police said the motive for the killing remained unknown and that no arrests had been made.
News of Stock’s death spread quickly on social media, where friends, former colleagues and public figures paid tribute. Businessman Rob Hersov described Stock as “loving and compassionate,” and others recalled his work in Johannesburg radio and his involvement in private security operations. Messages framed Stock as both a popular broadcaster and a community figure.
Authorities said investigators were reviewing CCTV footage from the area and interviewing witnesses as part of an active probe. The Carlton Centre is a hub of offices and retail outlets in the city centre; police and emergency services regularly rely on surveillance cameras and witness statements in investigations there.
Stock’s death adds to a pattern of high-profile shootings in Johannesburg that have drawn widespread attention to urban crime and public safety. Local community leaders and media personalities called for a thorough police inquiry and for steps to protect workers who perform security and oversight roles in the central business district.
At this stage, police have not released further identifying details about the suspects beyond the initial description, nor have they provided a timeline for arrests. Investigators urged anyone with information or footage from the area around the Carlton Centre to contact the Johannesburg police tip line.
Stock rose to prominence as a radio disc jockey and remained known in local media circles. His death prompted immediate reflection among broadcasters and listeners, who noted the abrupt end to a career that had kept him in the public ear for years.
Police said the investigation was ongoing and asked for patience as they worked to develop leads and piece together a clear sequence of events.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
