A 38-year-old mother of four was shot and killed in Lavender Hill in the early hours of Thursday morning, allegedly because of her eldest son’s gang affiliations.
Berenice Noble was shot six times, including in her face, and died on the scene outside Pontiac Court in Blode Street.
According to neighbours her eldest son had been involved with gangs and allegedly owed them money.
The gangsters had apparently come after him, but found his mother, and shot her instead.
Berenice’s shocked mother, Patricia Swartz, 59, arrived at the scene along with a large group of community members.
Patricia says she has no idea why her daughter was killed and did not know why she was outside after 5am.
“We don’t know why and what happened to her. We only know that she was shot and killed,” the
distraught woman told the Daily Voice.
INCONSOLABLE: Family of Berenice are distraught at the loss
She said Berenice was unemployed and has four children, three of whom are minors.
“I have taken my three grandchildren in. One is in high school and two are in primary school. I lost my daughter and they have lost their mother.
“Berenice was not working at the moment. We will probably hear from people who were there, like the neighbours, of what had happened to her,” Patricia added.
Susan Cupido, 43, who lives close to the flats said she was woken by the gunshots just after 5am on Thursday.
VICTIM: Berenice Noble, 38
“We waited for it to stop and then went out. She was just lying there on her stomach. It was terrible to see.”
Cupido says Noble’s 19-year old son was involved with gangsters in the area and owed money to someone and that probably led to his mother’s death.
“She is so young and now she is paying for her son’s sins. It is a very big shock. That boy better come right now.”
SCENE: Berenice’s remains removed
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut, confirmed the incident.
“[Thursday] morning at around 5.20am, a 38-year-old female was shot and killed in Blode Street, Lavender Hill by unknown suspects who are yet to be arrested.
“The motive for the murder is yet to be established and the circumstances are being investigated.”