Cape Town’s anti-gang unit cordoned off an area around Neptune Lane, in Ocean View, where at least six victims were killed in a daytime mass shooting, on Wednesday.
Ocean View mass shooting: Police link murders to gang violence
Police were called to the Southern Peninsula township shortly after 11:00 on Wednesday after witnesses watched in horror as a group of armed men stormed into a house on Neptune Lane and unleashed a hail of gunfire at its occupants.
In a statement, Cape Town police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa, confirmed early indications suggest a vehicle pulled up to the targeted property at approximately 10:50, and an unknown number of gunmen “went inside the house and started shooting at individuals inside the premises.”
The armed gunmen exited the property seconds later and sped off, leaving behind a horrific scene. Inside the house, Brig. Potelwa revealed, six victims were found lying in pools of blood.
When police arrived minutes later, five of the victims were declared dead on the scene, while a sixth person was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared deceased on arrival.
The ages of the six victims range between 20 and 50, and at the time this article was published, police had not revealed much else about their respective identities.
While, at the time of reporting, crime scene experts were still combing the house for forensic evidence, early indications suggest the Ocean View mass shooting may be gang-related.
“Detectives from the provincial Anti-Gang unit are investigating six counts of murder. The motive for the shooting is suspected to be gang related with no arrests effected yet,” Potelwa confirmed.
Details on the suspects remain unknown and it’s presumed they are at large and considered heavily armed and dangerous.
“Anyone with information on the incident that can assist in expediting the police investigation is urged to contact police,” Potelwa added.
Take a look at the chaotic scene of the mass shooting, courtesy of Daily Maverick reporter Velani Ludidi.
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This is a developing story.