how old was hector peterson when he died

was 12 years old when he was shot and killed by apartheid police on June 16, 1976. Key Details of His Death The Cause: He was killed by a bullet fired directly at him during a peaceful student protest in Soweto, South Africa. The Protest: Black students were marching to

was 12 years old when he was shot and killed by apartheid police on June 16, 1976.

Key Details of His Death

• The Cause: He was killed by a bullet fired directly at him during a peaceful student protest in Soweto, South Africa.
• The Protest: Black students were marching to protest a government mandate enforcing Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools.
• The Iconic Photo: Photojournalist Sam Nzima captured a world-famous image of 18-year-old Mbuyisa Makhubo carrying Hector's body alongside Hector's sister, Antoinette Sithole.
• The Legacy: His death became a global symbol of the brutality of the apartheid regime. Today, June 16 is commemorated nationally in South Africa as National Youth Day.