The community of Parkwood is in mourning following the tragic death of 27-year-old Ashton Martin, a father of two who was found shot dead in Lake Road, Lotus River, on Friday, 27 June 2025. Martin had been reported missing after last being seen alive on Friday, 20 June 2025.
According to his father, Anthony de Kella, their last conversation took place just after 1.50pm on that fateful Friday. Martin, who resided with his grandmother in Parkwood, informed her that he would be spending the night at a friend's house before leaving their home at approximately 10pm.
Tragically, Martin's lifeless body was discovered later that night on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Lake Road with a gunshot wound on his head. Police responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 10.52pm and found Martin's body at the scene.
The devastating news only reached Anthony on Monday morning when he went to the police station to report his son missing.
The grieving father explained: “The last time I spoke to my son was on Friday 1.50pm and I left him at home. He lives with his grandmother in Parkwood and he told her that he is not coming home, he is going to sleep at a friend’s house and he left home around 10pm."
“He first went to fetch clothes at someone’s house before going to his friends and on his way they shot him before 11pm on Friday."
The family was unaware of the shooting until Anthony went to the police station. "We were not aware of the shooting. I went to his grandmother to find out if she heard anything and she said nothing," he said.
Describing the moment he received the news, Anthony recounted his visit to the police station on Monday morning to open a missing person’s case.
“I showed the secretary at the police station the details on my phone, his pictures, motorbike and the clothes he was last seen in. Then she checked the computer and said the information on the missing person poster matches the information on the computer."
“Then she said, ‘Ek is jammer om jou te sê, but jou kind is deceased’ (I am sorry to tell you, but your child is deceased)," Anthony said, recounting the secretary's words.
He added that his son's phone was still in his pocket, but his chain, bracelet, and wallet were missing, suggesting robbery may have been a motive. “His phone was off but he still had it in his pocket. He was lying on top of it, but his chain, bracelet and wallet was gone.”
Anthony said Ashton’s daughters are aged three and six years old and the tragedy has left the family devastated.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that Grassy Park detectives are investigating a murder case.
Police are appealing to anyone with any information about this shooting incident to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously. The investigation is ongoing.
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