A BABY was mercilessly gunned down alongside her mother and their neighbour in a mass shooting on Tuesday night that has left Athlone reeling.
Two adult males survived the onslaught on their lives after sustaining gunshot wounds during the attack at Sunbird Court - at what crime fighters say was a “problem house”.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut said police are on the look out for three unknown suspects who opened fire on the victims and fled the scene.
Traut reported: “The South African Police Service strongly condemns the senseless and brutal killing of three people, including an infant, in a shooting incident last night.
“On Tuesday, 17 February 2026 at approximately 10pm, police responded to reports of a shooting at Sunbird Court in Athlone.
“Upon arrival, officers found the bodies of two women aged 25 and 36, as well as a nine-month-old baby, who had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Two adult males were also shot and injured during the incident and were transported to a medical facility for treatment.
“Preliminary information indicates that three unknown suspects fled the scene and have not yet been arrested. The motive for the attack is still under investigation.
“Detectives attached to the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit are leading the investigation.”
One of the victims is Toefieka Latoe, 36, who is a mother of three.
According to a family member, Toefieka is a neighbour who went to take medicine for the baby when she was shot dead.
He told the Daily Voice: “We got the news and immediately rushed to the scene. According to our understanding, Toefieka went to take medicine for the baby's mother. We do not know the exact details and do not want to speculate at this point.
“The family is broken, nobody is coping. My children are having a difficult time because they were very close with Toefieka.
“She was a good person and an amazing mother to her two sons and daughter. She was not involved in any wrongdoing or gangsterism.”
Public relations officer for the Athlone Community Police Forum, Aqeelah Marks, said the house where the victims were gunned down has been a problem house and multiple complaints have been logged.
She explained: “The brother and sister have been living in the house for years. They are addicts but not gangsters. None of the people who were shot were gangsters but different people were frequent at the house to come and smoke. It has always been a problem house for years.
“When we arrived, two females were found with gunshot wounds in the room, the baby was transported with a private vehicle to hospital. A male victim was found in the house and another was found in the road. There were shell casings all over.”
Police are appealing to anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously via the MySAPS mobile application. All information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.