“I Hoped It Wasn’t Her”: Husband of Murdered Marathon Runner Speaks Out After Johannesburg Shooting
- Chinette Gallichan, a 35-year-old labour lawyer and committed marathon runner, was shot dead in the Johannesburg CBD
- Her husband, Keegan, who is also a marathon runner, rushed to the scene and described the moment he realised the tragedy
- Friends, colleagues, and the running community mourned her death, while national figures, including the Minister of Justice, condemned the killing
As people in Johannesburg and across the country come to terms with the cruel murder of 35-year-old labour lawyer and marathon runner Chinette Gallichan, who was shot in the Johannesburg CBD on Monday, 23 March 2026, her husband and fellow marathon runner Keegan Gallichan has spoken about the moment he arrived at the crime scene.
Source: Facebook
Chinette’s death, currently being investigated as a murder case by the South African Police Service (SAPS), is suspected to have been a targeted attack. A man reportedly pounced on her as she got out of her car on her way to the CCMA building near the corner of Fox Street in downtown Johannesburg.
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Speaking to News24, Keegan recalled rushing to the scene after hearing about the shooting. His world came crashing down quickly on Monday when he first saw a Facebook post that confirmed his worst fear. The post, shared by Intelligence Bureau SA, announced that a female attorney had been shot dead in the Johannesburg CBD.
“I hoped it wasn’t her,” Keegan told News24, filled with emotion. After arriving at the scene and realising the truth, he was left with what he described as a “profound sense of loss”, not just shock, but immediate, crushing grief.
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In an emotional interview with ENCA News, Gillichan’s voice cracked as he recounted the last time he spoke to his wife before learning she had been killed.
He said the morning had started like any other, ordinary routines, shared moments, nothing out of place.
“We spoke at about 9 o’clock,” he said.
“Just the usual wishing her a good day and asking her to let me know when she got there. That message was the last time I heard from her.”
Gillichan said he only learned something was wrong when he saw a Facebook post about a shooting.
“I saw a post saying a female attorney had been killed on a street corner. My heart just sank,” he said.
“I couldn’t believe it could be her. I left the office straight away.”
Keegan said took him about an hour to drive from Pretoria to the scene, only to find his wife lying lifeless on the street. He said he ran toward her, but police stopped him because the scene was still an active investigation. Gillichan added that he saw her cellphone, car keys and ID in a vehicle nearby and, when officers handed those items to him, he realised it was his wife who had been killed.
Overcome with emotion, Gillichan described the scene as dark and painful, saying that while death in any form is devastating, the way his wife had been killed felt especially horrific. He said his family could not understand what would motivate the shooting, but he was convinced that Chinette had been specifically targeted.
Keegan and Chinette had a shared passion for running
Chinette and her husband, Keegan, were both active members of the Run Zone Athletics Club in Northcliff, Johannesburg. They regularly ran in road races together, including major events such as the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. Gallichan completed that marathon in 2023 with a time of around 4:18:57, showing she was a committed runner, not just a casual participant.
She lived with her husband in Krugersdorp, just outside Johannesburg. Apart from being a dedicated runner, she was described on social media and by her running club as a “vibrant and active individual who loved life” and embraced adventure alongside her husband.
Source: Facebook
Her online profiles also showed her faith and love for travel. She was known among colleagues for her legal professionalism and calm, composed approach to handling labour disputes. Tributes from her running club mention both Chinette and Keegan as a couple who ran together and supported each other’s sporting goals, leaving a lasting impression on their community.
South Africans react with heartbreak to the murder
The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, condemned the killing and called for justice for Chinette. South Africans expressed their fear and heartbreak, living in a country where such senseless killings exist.
@tshenolo_01:
''The saddest thing about this is that we wake up daily thinking it's just another ordinary day. Little did she know it was her last. This hits so hard.''
@kristijan.madjarevic:
''Just terrible, a life taken for someone's greed and evil nature.''
@gosensian:
''Condolences to the family. Very tragic.''
The Waterfall Athletics Club paid their tribute to Chinette in a moving post on X on Tuesday, 24 March.
South African runner wins New York City Half Marathon
Briefly News previously reported that South African distance runner Adriaan Wildschutt delivered an outstanding performance to claim victory at the 2026 New York City Half Marathon on Sunday 15 March.
Crossing the finish line in an impressive 59 minutes and 30 seconds, Wildschutt edged out American runner Zouhir Talbi by 11 seconds, marking one of the most significant wins of his career.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
