Gunman who murdered woman, newborn child in Lakes state Monday arrested

JUBA – South Sudan police authorities in the country’s Lakes state have announced the arrest of a 25-year-old man who alleged shot dead a lactating mother and her newborn child in Lakes state earlier this week and denied social media reports that the suspect had been executed in a firing squad upon orders of governor Rin Tueny.

The murder which sparked outrage among social media users of South Sudan took place at Pacam Payam of Rumbek East County on Monday before midnight when an unidentified gunman believe to be carrying out a revenge killing entered a compound killing the woman.

One Wednesday, a section of the local media reported quoted unverified sources that the culprit had been executed by firing squad upon orders of the newly appointed governor Rin Tueny Mabor after local youth known as Gelweng handed over the suspect to the authorities.

However, police spokesman in Lakes Captain Elijah Mabor denied that the suspect has been executed, but announced that he has been arrested and was being investigated as provided for in the law stressing that the court will take a decision after the investigation.

“He is under detention in Rumbek East. After investigation, the case will be forwarded to the court and the court will decide over it,” Elijah said, according to the Juba-based Eye Radio, naming the suspect as 25-year-old Sebit Maruol.