But, regardless, of how they got the guns, it is what it is is: five firearms off the streets - and that certainly doesn't happen everyday.
And, similarly, an arrest and gun seizure that fell into the police department's laps on Sunday - is also the kind of thing that doesn't happen everyday.
DCP Williams told us how a police patrol came upon an active shooter in broad daylight:,..
DCP Chester Williams
"Yesterday morning, police were patrolling the area of Magazine Road when their attention was drawn to the apparent sound of gunshots going off. Police quickly responded to the area and upon doing so, they saw a person known to them as Albert Wagner. Who had a firearm in his hand and was shooting at a resident. The police quickly moved after him and upon seeing the police, he ran off and the police pursued him and were able to catch him. Upon capturing him, he threw the firearm at a house and police were able to find the firearm. It was picked up and he was taken into custody, along with the weapon. He has since been charged for kept unlicensed firearm and ammunition and discharging a firearm in public. He is the first person now to be charged under the new gang legislation for possession of a firearm for the purpose of gang activity. The police officers are the witnesses in the matter and so we are hoping that we will be able to follow through with a conviction on this matter."
"The gang legislation is a tough piece of legislation. It has some severe penalties, so once we have the evidence that we can proceed with charges under that new piece of law, we are going to do so."
This was a rivalry between two rival groups that are one street apart from each other.
The Crime Control and Criminal Justice Amendment Bill passed earlier this year says, quote, "A person who is a gang member…commits an offense… and is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years." End quote.
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