Teen shot dead in crossfire during matric celebrations
A 14-year-old girl from Kensington was shot dead while watching local learners celebrate their matric farewells on Saturday evening, Daily Voice has reported.
Alnika Mitchell was sitting with friends in front of her home in Lugmag Street when she was struck by a stray bullet.
The Daily Voice visited Mitchell’s home on Sunday, a day after the tragic shooting, where her devastated family described the heartbreaking moment she collapsed in the yard after trying to seek help.
Her grandmother, Beverley Abrahams, recounted: “Nika and her two friends were sitting outside, right in front of the house, watching the matric balls.
“As I was on my way out to see them as well, she came running in, holding her chest and said, ‘Ma, ek is geskiet’ [Mom, I’ve been shot].
“I ran past her because I wanted to know who shot her — my priority was to catch the person who hurt my child.
“I saw a man with a silver gun near the corner shop. He told me, ‘uit die pad uit’ [get out of the way], because they wanted to continue shooting. I confronted him, saying, ‘jy’t my kind geskiet’ [you shot my child].
“I started chasing him and called for help, telling people, ‘hy’t my kind geskiet, vang hom’ [he shot my child, catch him].
“I couldn’t run far because I ran out of breath. When I got back home, I saw her lying in the yard. After that, I went blank.”
Her father, Emilio Johnson, tearfully described Alnika as his eldest daughter and said he always tried to protect his children from the gun violence in their community by keeping them indoors.
“She was supposed to get her report and move on to Grade 10,” he said. “Last term, I joked with her about not doing well, and she almost cried — I hugged her because I didn’t want to hurt her. She was my bossiekop; we had a good relationship.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that murder and attempted murder cases have been opened.
“Kensington police responded to a complaint of a shooting on the corner of Lugmag Avenue and Ventura Street, Factreton, on Saturday evening, 6 December 2025, at about 7.30 p.m.
“Upon arrival, they found the body of a 14-year-old girl who had sustained a gunshot wound. She was declared dead at the scene by medical personnel.
“An adult male also sustained a gunshot wound to his arm and was treated on the scene.
“According to reports, the suspect opened fire on a silver Volkswagen Polo, and the victims were caught in the crossfire. The suspect fled and has yet to be arrested.”
Twigg also confirmed a separate fatal shooting in Steenberg on the same night. Steenberg police registered two murder cases after a shooting at the corner of Herslett and Peter Charles Streets, Cafda, around 9.55 p.m., in which two men, aged 26 and 27, were killed.
Anyone with information regarding either incident is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the MySAPS mobile app anonymously.