Residents of Avian Park and Riverview in Worcester took to the streets in protest demanding an end to the continuing gang violence, which they say has been terrorising the community for too long.
Tyres were burnt and traffic delayed on Tuesday as residents conveyed their dismay after two men were gunned down just days apart.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut confirmed that a 24-year-old man had been arrested for murder after a 20-year-old man was shot at a Riverview block of flats on Sunday.
A video of the shooting, shared widely on social media, showed a community in the throes of panic, fleeing from the shots being fired.
WARNING: The video below contains strong language and graphic scenes of injury or death.
On Tuesday morning a 17-year-old man was shot at Avian Park. Traut said police were investigating the latest murder as well.
Following the shooting, residents took to the streets in protest.
Police were monitoring the violence and protest action in the area, Traut said.
One resident, Felicia Cloete, said: “A 17-year-old was shot at 7.10am and another was stabbed to death at 10.30am. He was arguing with someone. After that the people decided to march here in Avian Park.”
Traut, however, reiterated that there had been only one murder reported at Avian Park.
A resident, who did not want to be named, said pot shots had been taken at the police but caused no damage and there had been some looting at the shops of “foreigners” in the area.
He described the residents’ actions at Avian Park as “vigilantism”.