Barricade tape for crime scene (Courtesy)

A resident of Mauna Block 3 in Juba reports that joint security forces fired shots Thursday to disperse rival gangs involved in fighting, following the killing of a teenager in the area early in the morning.

Emmanuel Panadol Wani, an elderly resident of Mauna narrated the area had been tense since the morning of December 26.

He said the joint security forces were responding to violence between rival gangs, sparked by the killing of a 17-year-old boy by unknown gunmen.

Panadol narrated that the victim identified as Alfonse Sule was shot dead while returning from Christmas celebrations.

“Our situation is not good in Mauna Block 3, a young boy called Alphones who was shot early today morning around 1:42 am. He went out from a night club and fell in the ambush of the criminals,” he said.

“The police came and took his body to the mortuary. This is the reason of the death of Alphones, and this morning again, there were gunshots. It’s the intervention of the police to the case of the niggas.”

He added that Mauna is facing challenges related to the presence of unruly gang groups. On December 18, police reported a violent motorcycle robbery at the same residential area but added that there were no severe human casualties.

When contacted, Police Spokesperson Col. Kassara Koang said he was yet to get official information on the incident.