A South African World karate, continental and boxing champion, Leighandre ‘Baby Lee’ Jegels, has been confirmed dead after she was allegedly shot by her police officer boyfriend.
The 25-year old was killed on Friday, August 30. Jegels’ mother was also shot during the shooting and rushed to the hospital.
According to Dispatch Live, the incident took place on Friday following a high-speed chase in the Eastern Cape at around 14:00.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson, Sontaga Seisa said: “It is alleged that an off-duty policeman based at TRT East London fired several shots at his girlfriend who died instantly on the scene. The same policeman fired shots to his girlfriend’s mother and injured her. She is currently receiving medical attention in the area.”
Seisa also confirmed they were investigating the shooting.
The suspect, a 37-year-old police Tactical Response Team officer who went into hiding after the attack was later arrested about 15km from Peddie after the hired white Mercedes-Benz he had been driving was involved in an accident.
Police confirmed that one person was killed in the accident while four others were injured.
Jegels, who was an inspiration on and off the ring became the South African Junior Bantamweight Champion in 2016. She has an unbeaten record of 9-0 with 7 knockouts.
The young boxer who has not fought since August 2017 was expected to make her comeback against Siphosethu Nxazonke in a junior-bantamweight non-title clash in Mthatha on October 2, 2019.
Insiders revealed that Jegels and the accused lived together in Cove Rock until the boxer obtained a protection order against him.
“She did report allegations of domestic violence against the suspect.
“The guy was standing near the Da Gama textile factory turn-off. She noticed him and got out of the car to talk to him but he pulled out a gun and shot her in the face three times, and proceeded by shooting the mother,” a source said.