Tiano Anthony, the 9-year-old Manenberg boy who died after being shot in the head on Sunday July 9, was killed by a bullet fired from an illegal gun that was being cleaned, say police.
Tiano was rushed from the house in Towerkop Street to Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital but died on Monday.
Police raided the house on the day the boy was shot and arrested a 34-year-old man for the possession of tik, dagga, mandrax and heroin worth R10 000 and confiscated R265 in cash, according to Manenberg police spokesman Captain Ian Bennett.
A woman at the house had lied about how the boy was shot, claiming he had been felled by crossfire from rival gangs, said Captain Bennett.
However, on Tuesday July 11, the 34-year-old man had told police that he had accidentally shot the boy while cleaning a 9mm pistol that he had then given to a 24-year-old man in the same road. Police arrested that man on the same day and seized a pistol at his house.
Captain Bennett could not confirm whether the two men were gang members.
The woman could face charges of defeating the ends of justice and perjury, and police were still investigating, he said.
“The detectives will work towards a speedy prosecution and sentencing to ensure justice prevails. The firearm will be sent for ballistic testing,” he said.
Manenberg Community Police Forum chairman Vernon Visagie said the woman had claimed that Tiano and his 14-year-old friend had been playing in the road when rival gang members had run past and had opened fire, shooting Tiano while his friend had run away.
“That wasn’t believable in the first place because at 12.30pm on a Sunday, the road is full of people who would’ve seen the shooting transpire. How would no one see that in broad daylight? I am worried about the moral decline of our society.”
He added: “The crux of the matter is that that house is a drug den and hangout place for all types of crimes to take place.”
The community appeared to be continuing with life as usual following the shooting, he said.
“The street is quite full; kids are playing outside. I don’t know if the community is not facing reality or if this has become a norm to go back to life as usual and wait for the next shooting. I think people have come to accept that is the norm now, which is beyond sad.”
Manenberg resident Abdul Karriem Adams said the circumstances around the boy’s death had caused much sadness in the community.
“Once again a little child is gone, a young boy. People are very sad. On social media, there are so many videos going around. The way that he has gone is so sad. In Manenberg, it has become normal to hear that innocent people are being shot in gang rivalry.”
Anyone with information can contact Manenberg SAPS at 021 699 9400 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.