Renowned Prophet Dwayne Gordon was fatally shot at a church in Newlands, Johannesburg, on Friday.
UPDATE: Shortly after this article was published, Gauteng police released a statement confirming that “a case of murder and two counts of attempted murder have been opened for further investigations.” Read the full statement below this article.
Prophet Dwayne Gordan killed in Newlands church ambush
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Pastor Enrico Mosavel, who was also present during the incident, sustained injuries but is reported to be in a stable condition now.
The harrowing ordeal was captured on the church’s CCTV cameras, the footage of which has been circulating on social media platforms, igniting a mix of fear, sorrow, and anger among the community members and followers of Prophet Dwayne Gordon.
At the time this report was compiled, details surrounding the incident were still emerging.
However, it is understood that unidentified assailants stormed into the church premises and opened fire, targeting the religious leaders present.
The motive behind this gruesome act remains unclear, raising numerous questions and concerns among the public and law enforcement agencies.
‘It was not a robbery’ – Gayton McKenzie
The aftermath of the incident saw an outpour of grief and calls for justice from the community and religious factions across the country.
Gayton McKenzie, the leader of the Patriotic Alliance, released a statement expressing his disbelief and suspicion regarding the nature of the attack.
He hinted at the possibility that this brutal act was more than just a robbery gone wrong. McKenzie emphasised the lack of logic in attacking unarmed religious figures within the sacred premises of a church, suggesting a deeper, possibly sinister motive behind the ambush.
In his statement, McKenzie said:
“What will you truly get in a church? What caused them to shoot the men of God who were unarmed and really no danger to the killers. I believe that this was a hit, my only evidence currently is my knowledge of these matters.
“I knew Prophet Dwayne and he would regularly call me; hence I will use everything in my power to make sure that this case will not be brushed under the carpet like so many of the cases happening in our communities.”
The investigation into the ambush is underway.
POLICE STATEMENT:
“A group of about six unknown men accosted a congregation in church at Newlands. The suspects fired shots and three people were injured. One of the victims who succumbed to his injuries was identified as the pastor of the church. The suspects robbed people of their cellphones and other belongings before they fled the scene. A case of murder and two counts of attempted murder have been opened for further investigations. The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Gauteng, Lt Gen Elias Mawela has condemned this babararic incident in the strongest possible terms. The community is urged to work together with the police in dealing with crime in that area by reporting criminal activities and coming forth with any information that can assist with the investigations on the Crime Stop Line at 08600 10111 or anonymously give tip-offs on MySapsApp which can be downloaded on any smartphone. All information received will be treated with strictest confidence.“