White South African Serial Killer, Who Killed Dozens of Black People for Sport, Died. But Information About His Killing Spree Lives On

A 72-year-old serial killer who terrorized South Africa during the 1980s post- apartheid has died of his medical condition. But families are pushing the police to investigate the 20 alleged murders beyond the few he was convicted of.

Louis van Schoor hunted down Black people for sport between 1986 and 1989. Over those three years, police claim he took the lives of up to 39 people, according to BBC’s report. Van Schoor was hired to protect white-owned businesses in East London where he welcomed himself to shooting at passerbys, the report says.

All of his victims were Black; he even claimed the life of a 12-year-old. At the time of the murders, the apartheid system placed white South Africans on a pedestal above the Black population. During that time, he’s believed to have shot at over 100 people total, per The Guardian.

However, police classified 32 of his murders as “justified homicides,” some of the victims being labeled as burglars but majority of them being random people walking while Black. It wasn’t until 1991 that Van Schoor was arrested and convicted on seven counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

He was released on parole after serving 12 years in prison. Last Thursday, three decades since his tirade, he succumbed to complications from sepsis.

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In 2021, Van Schoor had both his legs partially amputated following circulatory complications.

His hospitalization a month ago, in the same East London hospital where many of his victims were taken, was due to an infection in the remains of one of his limbs.

Sepsis develops when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection and starts attacking its own tissues and organs. Van Schoor’s family said his condition deteriorated rapidly once sepsis set in, despite the best efforts of hospital staff.

In his final interview with the BBC, Van Schoor denied that he was a “serial killer”, but also said he had “no remorse” and “no guilt” for his past actions.

Following Van Schoor’s death, many families of his victims still grieve their chance at getting justice. Though, they still seek answers despite his death.

“He got off easy! I hope they still re-open these cases. The families deserve justice. We got nothing and the pain is still the same,” said Marles Mvumbi, whose brother was killed by Van Schoor 1986, via BBC.