Cops are investigating whether an alleged gangster was killed in a hit after he went down in a hail of bullets on Wednesday night.

Desmond Spalding, 34, was hit three times in the head when gunmen opened fire on him and a friend in full view of passersby.

The alleged Americans gangster was walking down First Avenue towards Vygekraal informal settlement in Athlone at about 8.45pm when a white Opel Corsa Bakkie with tinted windows drove up behind them.

Witnesses say the occupants of the bakkie rolled down the passenger window and started shooting at the men.

Desmond was hit several times while bullet shrapnel grazed his friend’s cheek.

Now cops are investigating if the alleged gangster was killed in a hit.

“After the shots were fired, the bakkie reversed and turned into Fifth Avenue and drove off. All the shots were fired from inside the bakkie and that’s the sign of a true marksman,” says a police source. “The shots were on target and they didn’t even get out of the bakkie.”

Desmond’s aunt Vivien Pitts, 68, says she doesn’t understand why he was murdered in cold blood.

“We’re all in shock by what happened and I keep asking myself why this happened because he wasn’t a violent person,” says Vivien.

Athlone police spokesman Warrant Officer Ian Bennett says police are investigating cases of murder and attempted murder.

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