Boy, 17, sentenced to 68 years in jail for Cape shooting spree

A teenage gangster has been sentenced to 68 years behind bars for killing two people and wounding three others, including a 9-year-old girl, during separate shooting sprees.

The 17-year-old was handed the hefty sentence by the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday after he was found guilty on two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and and the possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.

The teenager was first arrested in February last year for shooting dead a man in Petrus Street, Kraaifontein, and was later released on bail.

Police spokesperson Ndakhe Gwala said five months later the teen shot and killed a member of a rival gang and shot at three other people.

“He then turned around and shot a 9-year-old girl in the neck, an adult female in the knee and then shot at another person, but he missed,” she said.

After his shooting spree, the suspect was arrested and the anti-gang unit took over both cases.

“Detective Warrant Officer Otto Landsberg of the provincial organised crime anti-gang unit built a strong case against the accused and he was convicted on all nine charges.

“The 17-year-old suspect was sentenced to 30 years for two counts of murder, 30 years for three counts of attempted murder and eight years for possession of a firearm and ammunition,” Gwala said.

Crime activist and the leader of Action Society, Ian Cameron, said: “It is disheartening to see children getting involved in these violent crimes. The chances of this boy to turn his life around again are very small.

“These crimes are escalating to other parts of Cape Town that were initially not affected, and it is saddening,” he said.