17 people, including 15 women, were killed in two mass shootings in Lusikisiki, a rural town in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, AP News reports.
The shootings, which occurred Friday night, took place in two houses within the same neighborhood. Police are searching for the suspects, and a manhunt has been launched. The victims included 15 women and two men, with one other person in critical condition in the hospital. Four women, a man, and a 2-month-old baby survived the attack.
The motive for the killings remains unclear, though local media reported that the victims were attending a family gathering. South Africa has experienced a rise in mass shootings, often involving firearms, and authorities are working to address the issue of illegal guns circulating in the country.
