Gang shooting claims life of PE teenager

A Port Elizabeth teenager was shot dead in a suspected gangrelated incident at the weekend in Helenvale.

Ezra Murphy, 17, had been walking with two friends to a shop at the intersection of Stanford Road and Fitchard Street at about 1.40pm on Saturday when the incident occurred, police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said.

“Murphy’s two friends entered the shop while he remained outside.

“As the witnesses walked out of the shop, they noticed two suspects – one of them armed – alighting from a taxi, shooting at them, “Naidu said.

“The witnesses ran back into the shop. When the shooting stopped, they found Murphy lying outside with multiple gunshot wounds to his body.

“It is alleged that the victims were from the Room Rats gang and the suspect is from the New Kids gang.”

In a separate incident, also on Saturday, two people were shot at while sitting in the back yard at a Cellosia Crescent home in Extension 33 in Bethesldorp at about 12.30pm.

“The suspect approached at the back of the boundary wall – he was outside the yard,” Naidu said.

As the victims looked at the suspect, he fired several shots in their direction.

Naidu said the provincial gang investigation unit was investigating two cases of attempted murder.