The brutal assassination of South African media icon Warrick Stock, better known as DJ Warras, on December 16, 2025, in Johannesburg’s central business district has left an indelible scar on his loved ones and the nation. The 40-year-old radio host, podcaster, and television personality was gunned down in a targeted attack, robbing the entertainment industry of a vibrant voice and his family of a devoted father, son, and brother. In the weeks since, the Stock family’s raw expressions of sorrow have highlighted the devastating ripple effects of the tragedy, particularly on his three young sons, whose innocent world has been shattered by unimaginable loss.

DJ Warras, often called “The Shady Lurker,” was a multifaceted talent whose career illuminated South African airwaves and screens. From his early days at YFM to hosting prime-time shows on 5FM and co-founding influential podcasts, he blended sharp commentary with infectious charisma. His work extended into television, activism, and business, including efforts to reclaim hijacked buildings in Johannesburg—a pursuit that may have contributed to the threats he faced. Yet, beyond the public persona, Warras was profoundly family-oriented, a proud father who frequently celebrated his boys on social media and drew from his own fatherless upbringing to be an engaged, loving parent.

The family’s official statement, released shortly after the incident, captured the depth of their anguish: “With indescribable heartbreak, deep sorrow, and overwhelming shock, the Stock family learned of the tragic and untimely passing of their beloved Warrick.” They described him as a “devoted son, loving and proud father, cherished brother, and uncle,” the “heart and anchor” of their lives. The senseless violence left them “devastated, broken, and struggling to imagine a world without him.” Warras is survived by his three young children—Ethan, Troy, and Kiyaan—his mother, and siblings, whose futures now bear the weight of this profound absence.

The aftermath has been particularly harrowing for the children’s mother and the family unit. While maintaining privacy amid intense public scrutiny, those close to them paint a picture of unrelenting grief. The boys, still grappling with the sudden void, endure sleepless nights filled with confusion and fear. Questions no child should ask—about why their father is gone, or when he might return—hang heavy in conversations that break hearts anew. The circulation of graphic images and videos from the crime scene has added layers of trauma, prompting pleas from family members, including sister Nicole Stock, to refrain from sharing such content out of respect for the children’s vulnerability.

Memorial and funeral services amplified the family’s pain while celebrating Warras’s life. At the emotional memorial, tributes focused on his role as a family man, with speakers recalling how he “lived for” his sons. The eldest, Ethan, attended alongside his younger brothers, a poignant sight that moved many to tears. The funeral on December 23, 2025, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Rosebank incorporated traditional Zulu elements, honoring Warras’s cultural heritage through attire worn by his sons and pallbearers. Friends described him as selfless and humorous, a man who challenged norms yet poured boundless love into his family.

This tragedy exposes the cruel undercurrents of violence in South Africa, where targeted killings silence voices advocating change. Warras’s involvement in building security may have made him a target, with reports of prior protection orders underscoring the risks he faced. Yet, the true crushing depth lies in the private sphere: a family navigating holidays without him, children robbed of their hero, and a mother bearing the burden of explaining the unexplainable.

The public’s response has been one of collective mourning, with tributes highlighting Warras’s light and legacy. Initiatives to support his children’s future—education funds and community aid—reflect his impact. For the Stock family, healing will be a long road, marked by love’s endurance amid profound loss. Warras’s spirit, full of laughter and strength, lives on in his boys, a bittersweet comfort in their devastation.