Cape Town - Two suspects were arrested on Wednesday for the murder of nine-year-old Aqeel Davids in Ocean View earlier this month, police said.
Aqeel was shot in the head while sitting in his family’s living room on September 9. Two other relatives and an unknown man were wounded in the attack.
Police said in a statement on Thursday that provincial detectives had been working around the clock, following up on leads and arrested two suspects in Manenberg on Wednesday.
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The suspects aged 20 and 24 are facing murder and attempted murder charges.
They will appear in the Simons Town Magistrate's Court on Friday, police said.
The shooting happened when alleged gang members chased a man who had run into the family’s back yard, according to family friend Tashreeq Lee.
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Lee described the shooting to the Cape Times: “We were standing on the stoep when this guy jumped over the back gate and into the back yard. He was followed by a group of men who then shot at him through the back gate and came around to the front of the house and shot through the window.
"I was so shocked. I could not breathe. Then I saw Aqeel laying down so I picked up his body and carried him to the car,” said Lee.
On Friday fed up Ocean View residents took to the streets to protest against ongoing crime in the area. Residents burned tyres and other debris on the main road and threw stones at police.
Police used a water cannon to disperse the crowd.