McDonald’s says Meadowdale drive-thru shooting that claimed 6-year-old's life was attempted hijacking
Police have launched a manhunt for three suspects, two of whom robbed the staff in the store.
The Meadowdale McDonald's in Edenvale where a 6-year-old boy was shot and killed on 3 January 2025 while in the drive-thru with his parents. Picture: Orrin Singh/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - McDonald’s in Meadowdale, Edenvale, claims that an incident on Friday where a six-year-old boy was shot and killed while in the drive-thru with his parents, was an attempted hijacking.
The child died after being rushed to hospital after a suspect robbed the family while in the drive-through and then fired a shot at the vehicle after instructing them to leave.
Police have launched a manhunt for three suspects, two of whom robbed the staff in the store.
McDonald’s chief marketing officer, Daniel Padayachee, said they were devastated by the robbery incident.
"The perpetrators tried to rob some of our customers in the drive-thru and one of the customers that was in the drive-thru that was being held up tried to escape the incident and from what we hear, the robbers fired shots at the car and the car sped off," said Padayachee.
He said on Saturday they were informed by the family that the boy died after being shot.
"The family is quite regular patrons at the restaurant so they do know our crew and our staff and they allowed the staff to visit them today and pay their respects and sympathise with the family," he said.
The suspects made off with an undisclosed amount of cash from the restaurant.