Confusion on Gumbo Shirkat Road
Early on Thursday, motorists along the dusty entrance to Gumbo Shirkat heard a volley of shots. Within minutes, police sirens converged on the scene, revealing an unplanned clash between two arms of South Sudan’s security apparatus.
Deputy Police Spokesperson Major Lith Winston Simon later told reporters the gunfire stemmed from “a pure miscommunication that lasted only moments”.
Inside the CID Manhunt
Plainclothes Criminal Investigations Department officers had been tracking a suspect linked to a 4 September motorcycle-theft homicide in Hai Prisons. Intelligence from a first arrest earlier this week led detectives to the second suspect’s hideout.
The man, reportedly armed, tried to bolt through back alleys. Detectives fired, striking his leg and preventing escape, Major Simon confirmed.
Tiger Division’s Rapid Response
Hearing shots, a nearby Tiger Division patrol assumed civilians were under attack. The soldiers intercepted the unmarked CID pick-up, believing it belonged to gunmen, and demanded the occupants disarm.
Only after quick radio checks did officers and soldiers realise they served the same state. No security personnel were injured, and weapons were lowered within minutes.
Residents React and Calm Returns
Neighbours, rattled by sudden gunfire, phoned emergency lines and sheltered indoors. “We thought criminals were fighting,” resident Mary Jada recounted after calm returned.
Police reassured the public, stressing that coordinated deployments continue to safeguard life and property across Juba’s expanding suburbs.
Lessons for Coordination
Analysts say the incident highlights communication gaps that can arise in densely populated quarters where multiple forces operate. Major Simon noted that joint briefing protocols are being reviewed to prevent repeat scenarios.
Community leaders welcomed the swift clarification, urging residents to cooperate with ongoing investigations as authorities refine inter-agency drills.