Two die in M Plain gang shootings

Cape Town-131009-Police apprehended a person for allegedly shooting another in front of the Cape Town High Court. Picture Jeffrey Abrahams

Cape Town-131009-Police apprehended a person for allegedly shooting another in front of the Cape Town High Court. Picture Jeffrey Abrahams

Published Jan 24, 2014

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Cape Town - Gun violence flared up in Beacon Valley, Mitchells Plain, on Thursday night when two rival gang members were killed in separate shootings. A third man was injured in the first of the two shootings.

The victims were from the Americans and Mongrel gangs.

One of last night’s shootings happened in Peugot Avenue, near the Mitchells Plain police station.

“At about 9.16pm (police) received a complaint that two men were shot while they were sitting in a motor vehicle,” said police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk.

“The deceased aged 31 years (had) multiple bullet wounds to his head and body and was declared dead on the scene.

“It is alleged the deceased and the other victim aged 29 were shot by a suspect who fired several shots at them. The wounded victim sustained a bullet wound to his leg. Murder and attempted murder cases were opened.”

Half an hour later, a 38-year-old man was shot while walking on Hengelaar Street nearby. He was declared dead on the scene.

Community Policing Forum spokesman for the area, Michael Jacobs, said shootings were becoming more brazen and that the “gang battle for turf” was becoming a “fight to the death”.

What was even more worrying was that one of last night’s shootings had taken placewithin sight of a police station.

“That is a concerning detail,” said Jacobs. “There have been a lot of community mobilisation and police foot patrols in recent weeks. It’s almost as if the gangsters are sending a message by shooting even where police are patrolling, even in front of a police station. They have become emboldened.”

No one has been arrested for either of the shootings and police have asked anyone with information to contact Warrant Officer Dedrick April at 084 516 7263.

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