Police have arrested a second suspect in connection with the killing of two Gauteng Anti-Gang Unit officers and two women in Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni, last week.
The 24-year-old man was taken into custody on Sunday afternoon by a multidisciplinary team involving the Hawks, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, SAPS Anti-Gang Unit and Flying Squad. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the suspect was arrested in Reiger Park following an intensive tracing operation.
The arrest comes as police continue to maintain that 23-year-old Reagan Cheslin Collis, who was arrested last week, is the alleged gunman in the shootings.
The Times Post reported on Sunday that a source familiar with the incident and CCTV footage linked to the case disputed that version. The source alleged that Collis was inside his grandmother’s home when the shooting happened.
Reiger Park Shooting: Police Arrest Second Suspect
According to the source, CCTV footage allegedly captures another man dressed in a dark hoodie and red tracksuit trousers shooting the two women before escaping in a silver-grey Volkswagen Polo.
Collis is allegedly seen afterwards confronting the man and saying: “I saw you.” The source further alleged that Collis and his friends had a longstanding rivalry with a gang known as the “Sour Boys”.
[Leaked CCTV Footage Claims Reiger Park Shooting Suspect Was At Home]
It is also alleged that Collis and his associates had received threats from the group on Facebook hours before the shooting. The source claimed the attack was intended to target Collis and his associates. Police have not publicly confirmed these allegations about the CCTV footage or the alleged threats.
Collis was arrested during a multidisciplinary tracing operation that resulted in the recovery of two R5 rifles at the KwaDukathole informal settlement in Germiston.
He faces four counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances. He is also charged in connection with the alleged possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Reiger Park Murders: Two Police Officers And Two Women Killed
Collis’s case was postponed to August 25 for a formal bail application. The four victims were Anti-Gang Unit Constables Thapelo Tlomatsana, 29, and Sphiwe Sibeko, 28, as well as civilians Roleen Lessing and Jaydin Margerman.
Police said the officers were conducting crime-prevention patrols in the area when they heard the gunfire that killed the two women.
The officers then drove towards the reported source of the gunshots, where police allege they were ambushed. The latest suspect is expected to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court this week. His arrest adds another development to the investigation into the deadly Reiger Park shooting.
Reiger Park Crime: Police Thank Community For Information
Acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane welcomed the assistance provided by members of the Reiger Park community during the investigation.
“This arrest is not only a victory for SAPS; it is also a demonstration of the power of a community that refuses to be silenced by criminals,” Dimpane said. She assured residents that police and their law-enforcement partners would continue working to identify and arrest those responsible for the violence.
Dimpane said communities remain an important partner in the fight against crime, particularly in areas affected by gang violence.
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“When communities speak up, they give police the information we need to move investigations forward. We therefore urge the people of Reiger Park to continue standing with the police and to continue providing information that can help us identify and arrest those who commit violent crimes,” she said. She also urged residents to continue sharing information with law enforcement.
“We want the people of Reiger Park to know that we hear you. We appreciate those who have chosen to stand up and speak up. Your information matters, and your courage strengthens our investigations. We will continue working with you to reclaim our communities from criminals,” she added.
