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Port Elizabeth police have warned members of the public that they could be charged with defeating the ends of justice.
Police spokesperson, captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg, says they strongly suspect that members of the public had removed vital evidence from the scene of one of three suspected gang-related shootings this weekend.
Police have reiterated their appeal for help in solving the three seperate shootings in which two people were killed and one wounded over the weekend.
The acting Cluster Commander of Mount Road Cluster, Brigadier John Le Bok said " We have a dedicated task team focusing on the investigation of gang related crime and violence. The team have launched a hunt for the suspects in the three murders this weekend.
"We need the public's help and I call on any person that in any way can assist us with the investigating to please speak out and come forward especially relating to the location of illegal firearms. We also had an incident this weekend where it is believed that members of the community removed vital evidence, empty cartridges from a crime scene, before police could arrive and secure it. Such a person can be arrested and charged with the Defeating the ends of justice and we make plea to the public, not to enter a crime scene or remove any item from it. To assist an injured person is allowed, but whoever is assisting must be mindful of not unnecessary disturbing the crime scene and destroying evidence," he said.
Brigadier Le Bok said the "SAPS has deployed additional manpower in the areas of Gelvandale and Bethelsdorp. "Crime prevention operations are conducted in terms of our Crime Pattern Analysis with specific deployment in areas where certain crime tendencies have emerged."
The incidents in which the PE SAPS are requesting the public's assistance relates to three shooting incidents where three men were killed this weekend.
*The first incident occurred on the 14th of March 2014 at approximately 09:10 when a 23 year old man was shot at the c/o Baaitjies Street and Kobus Road, Gelvandale The victim sustain a gun shot wound to his lower back when two unknown men open fire on him and a friend, walking together. Only the deceased sustained gunshot wounds and was taken to Livingston hospital for his injuries but later died. A case of Murder is being investigated.
**Another shooting incident occurred on 15 March 2014 at 08:55 in Fitchard Street, Helenvale when a 30 year old man died on the scene after two unknown men approached the deceased and his friend and started shooting at the deceased. The friend managed to ran away and the 30 year old man died on the scene. A case of murder is also under investigation.
***On Saturday morning at 10:25 a 24 year old man was sitting with friends at Saliehout Street, Gelvandale when four unknown men came from behind and started firing shots at them. The deceased sustained a gunshot wound and died on the scene. His friends fled the scene. No one else was injured. A case of murder is under investigation.
