Two young men, both 23 years old, have been arrested in connection with a horrific mass shooting that claimed four lives in Bishop Lavis last Friday evening.
Authorities say the suspects stormed a home on Reenberg Street around 7:15 p.m., opening fire and killing two men and two women inside. Emergency responders declared all four victims dead at the scene.
The pair, believed to be linked to ongoing gang activity in the area, are now facing four counts of murder and are expected to appear in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s Court.
While police continue their investigation, local detectives from the Anti-Gang Unit were praised for their quick action, which led to the arrests. Officials have stated that the possibility of gang involvement remains a strong line of inquiry.
The shooting has deeply shaken the Bishop Lavis community, where residents and local leaders have once again called for urgent government intervention. Community members say they live in constant fear, with illegal weapons flooding the streets and gang activity becoming increasingly brazen.
The local Community Policing Forum (CPF) issued a strong statement condemning the killings and demanding a full judicial inquiry into the government’s failure to address gang violence. They are calling for immediate deployment of resources to the area, improved police visibility in high-risk zones, and a long-term strategy to address poverty and unemployment—factors they say fuel gang recruitment.
“This community refuses to accept that people must live like prisoners in their own homes,” said CPF Chairperson Amanda Davids. “Our silence is no longer an option. We need action, not empty promises.”
Davids urged residents, civil society groups, and religious organizations to unite in resisting the grip of gangs and to reclaim their streets through all legal and moral means available.