Bam Christiaan "Chris"

Regarding what happened and how they died, Chris Bam was a retired dairy farmer who had previously farmed in Koppies in the Northern Free State. He had recently purchased the Doornpoort smallholding together with his 26-year-old son, André Bam, who moved to the property to assist his father with his retirement transition. During the early morning hours at approximately 02:00 on Monday, July 28, 2008, a heavily armed criminal gang breached the home and ambushed the family inside their residence, which included Chris Bam, his son André, and his wife Veronica. The attackers opened fire on the occupants during the home invasion. André Bam was executed by the perpetrators, sustaining a single gunshot wound to his head, and he died instantly at the scene. Chris Bam survived the immediate confrontation but sustained severe ballistic trauma, being shot six times with gunshot wounds concentrated in his stomach and his leg. He was transported to a medical facility for treatment but ultimately succumbed to the severe complications of his internal injuries three weeks later, passing away on Wednesday, August 20, 2008.