One person was killed and another one injured in a shooting incident in the Sherikat suburb of Juba on Sunday night.
The incident unfolded near a mobile money transfer center when an unidentified gunmen opened fire on the two young individuals.
South Sudan National Police Service Spokesman, Daniel Justin, told Radio Tamazuj Monday that the incident happened as the police were pursuing suspected criminals. The suspects reportedly began shooting at the police, who returned fire. Unfortunately, two bystanders were struck by stray bullets.
The victims were identified as Lueth from Bor, who was critically injured and later died at the Nile Kings Specialists Hospital, and a girl whose name was not disclosed. Medical sources reported that the girl was currently in stable condition.
Police were chasing some criminals who fired at them, forcing the security agents to shoot back. In the process, one person was shot, Justin explained.
“We have arrested the suspects and the investigations are going on,” he said.
This shooting adds to a troubling pattern of gun-related violence in Juba and its surroundings, raising serious concerns about public safety. Many residents attribute the rise in such incidents to South Sudan’s severe economic downturn, which has intensified social tensions and strained public resources.
On Sunday, Maj Gen Lul Ruai Koang, the spokesman for the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), addressed the issue of rampant firearm misuse. He called for improved control and management of weapons.
Juba remains tense with residents demanding measures that are more effective to combat the escalating violence.