The investigating officer in the Reiger Park shooting that claimed the lives of two police officers and two women told the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court that the first accused had allegedly warned community members that “Reiger Park would burn” if anything happened to him.<\/p>\n
The investigating officer argued on Tuesday in an affidavit that the alleged statement demonstrated Reagan Cheslin Collis<\/a>\u2019 influence and power in the community.<\/p>\n However, accused Collis, 23, through his lawyer, attorney Samkele Kuzani, denied the allegation.<\/p>\n Collis appeared in court alongside accused number two Jamal Meyer, 24, and accused number, Elvino Levert Crafford, 27, for formal bail applications.<\/p>\n The three men face charges arising from the shooting on August 7 at about 7p.m. in Reiger Park.<\/p>\n It claimed the lives of Anti-Gang Unit officers Constables Thapelo Tlomatsana, 29, and Sphiwe Sibeko, 28, as well as civilians Roleen Lessing and Jaydin Margerman.<\/p>\n Police have said the officers were conducting crime-prevention patrols in the area when they heard gunshots.\u00a0<\/p>\n They drove towards the source of the gunfire and were allegedly ambushed.<\/p>\n According to the investigating officer\u2019s affidavit, two women had stopped in a street near a local supermarket.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the ladies exited the vehicle, her red (Volkswagen) Polo. They were driving in and entered the shop. Shortly after, the lady returned to the vehicle while being seated in the passenger seat,\u201d the affidavit states.<\/p>\n The investigating officer said a suspect approached from the front and fired several shots at the red Volkswagen Polo.<\/p>\n \u201cA patrolling police vehicle then responded to the shooting incident and this is when the two police officers also got shot. All four died in their respective vehicles,\u201d the affidavit states.<\/p>\n The officers\u2019 service rifles were also taken, the court heard.<\/p>\n The investigating officer said CCTV footage showed Collis and Meyer at the scene and implicated them in the killings. The state intends to present the footage as evidence during the trial.<\/p>\n A case involving four counts of murder was opened.<\/p>\n The rifles were subsequently recovered, the investigating officer said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe video material above corroborates a pointing-out\/confession by accused number one, wherein he confesses to the killings,\u201d the affidavit states.<\/p>\n According to the investigating officer, the alleged confession also led police to the recovery of the service rifles taken from the two officers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe admissibility thereof will be determined by the trial court,\u201d the investigating officer said.<\/p>\n Disputed CCTV footage<\/p>\n The investigating officer told the court that the state was aware of video footage circulating on social media that allegedly showed Collis at home when the shootings took place.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to state categorically that such video footage lacks authenticity and does not reflect what truly transpired at the scene,\u201d the affidavit states.<\/p>\n The officer said police had received information about the identity of the person allegedly responsible for circulating the footage in an attempt to undermine the state\u2019s case.<\/p>\n \u201cI also received information that the accused himself was involved in such propaganda by posting misleading material to divert attention from the real issues,\u201d the court heard.<\/p>\n The court was also told that Collis had allegedly been found recently in possession of a cellphone while in a correctional facility.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are in possession of such cellphone information,\u201d the investigating officer said.<\/p>\n The state is opposing bail, arguing that Collis poses a danger to the public and could interfere with the administration of justice.<\/p>\n Although his address had been verified and he lived with his mother, the investigating officer said it had initially been difficult to trace.<\/p>\n Collis does not have a passport, but the state argued that he had the means to evade trial by leaving the province because he has family elsewhere.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has access to vehicles to use, and his power with the gang has proved that he could be hidden by the people close to him,\u201d the affidavit states.<\/p>\n The state further argued that the seriousness of the charges, which could result in life imprisonment, could motivate Collis to flee.<\/p>\n The investigating officer said Collis had also made statements on social media about shootings and had invited his enemies to \u201ccome and try shooting at them\u201d.<\/p>\n The officer further alleged that Collis could use associates and family members to interfere with the investigation.<\/p>\n \u201cGangsterism works with instructions and orders given to low-ranking members to execute such,\u201d the investigating officer said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe accused himself informed members that Reiger Park will burn if something should happen to him, proving his influence and power.\u201d<\/p>\n The state said its investigation had not been completed, with outstanding suspects and witness statements still being pursued.<\/p>\n The investigating officer also alleged that Collis had previously been released on bail and continued committing offences.<\/p>\n \u201cThis criminal history started in 2021 and has not stopped,\u201d the affidavit states.<\/p>\n The state also expressed concern that Collis\u2019 alleged gang affiliation could trigger retaliatory violence.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is further alleged that his gang may retaliate through revenge attacks,\u201d the investigating officer said.<\/p>\n The accused\u2019s family had allegedly claimed that police were working with a rival gang and were framing Collis.<\/p>\n The investigating officer described Reiger Park as a community facing serious gang-related violence.<\/p>\n The state argued that refusing bail would help restore order and demonstrate that law and order remained essential to community safety.<\/p>\n The state said it was opposing bail because it believed it had a strong case against all three accused.<\/p>\n \u201cMr Collis is alleged to be a well-known gang member in Reiger Park who is feared by the community. He is unemployed, lives with family and his means of financial support are unknown,\u201d the investigating officer said.<\/p>\n The state said Collis\u2019 criminal history included arrests relating to violence and firearms.<\/p>\n The state said the firearms used in the killings had not all been accounted for and could therefore remain a threat to the public.<\/p>\n It further argued that additional cases were being reported as community members came forward with information about gang-related violence.<\/p>\n The investigating officer said refusing bail could prevent renewed violence and retaliatory killings.<\/p>\n The state alleges that Collis is a member and leader of the \u201cVartos-Latos\u201d gang, which is in conflict with a gang known as the \u201cSour Boys.\u201d<\/p>\n The state said this was consistent with allegations by Collis\u2019 family that police were working with the Sour Boys.<\/p>\n The investigating officer also argued that refusing bail could protect Collis himself from possible retaliation.<\/p>\n \u201cThe community is outraged and is begging for the accused\u2019s blood and may take the law into their own hands,\u201d the officer said.<\/p>\n Collis denies allegations<\/p>\n Collis earlier, told the court that he was at home with friends when the shooting occurred.<\/p>\n They were eating and sitting outside, but within the property, he said.<\/p>\n He said he had an alibi and that CCTV footage<\/a> from the property would support his version.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a defence of alibi and this makes the state case very weak against me,\u201d Collis said.<\/p>\n He said he intended to present three video recordings showing that he was at home at the time of the incident.<\/p>\n Collis described himself in one of the recordings as wearing a white hat, maroon jersey and brown shoes.<\/p>\n He said he went outside after the shooting in an attempt to help the occupants of a Volkswagen Polo Vivo.<\/p>\n \u201cThe motor vehicle in which the two women were driving was rolling. I had to assist them. In all honesty, I had not shot them. In all honesty, if I had shot them, I would not see the need to help them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Collis said more than four witnesses could support his version.<\/p>\n He denied possessing a firearm or any other dangerous weapon and said no firearm used in the killings had been found in his possession.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be very stupid of me to kill the police officers right in front of where I stay, knowing very well that there are cameras,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Collis further alleged that police officers tortured him for more than three hours in an attempt to force him to confess.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThey put plastic over my head, said I must confess to the crime. This happened for more than three hours,\u201d he alleged.<\/p>\n He said he was lying on his stomach while tightly handcuffed and that police officers recorded the incident.<\/p>\n \u201cI was sure I was dying from this torture,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Collis alleged that he eventually told police he had killed the two police officers and two women and implicated Meyer.<\/p>\n He later retracted the confession, saying it had been made because of the alleged torture.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is definitely not true,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Collis said Meyer was at home when the shooting occurred and only arrived at the scene afterwards.<\/p>\n He also claimed that he had assisted police in locating firearms after the shooting.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I would be a witness in this case, but later the police charged me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Kuzani asked the court to allow CCTV footage to be played to demonstrate that Collis was at home when the shooting occurred and that Meyer and Crafford were not present.<\/p>\n The state has indicated that it has received the footage.<\/p>\n IOL previously reported that a source familiar with the investigation who had viewed CCTV footage claimed that the recordings raised questions about whether Collis was the person who fired the shots.<\/p>\n According to the source, Collis was inside his grandmother\u2019s house when the shooting occurred.<\/p>\n The footage allegedly shows another man wearing a dark hoodie and red tracksuit trousers shooting the two women before fleeing in a silver-grey Volkswagen Polo.<\/p>\n The source further claimed that Collis was later seen confronting the alleged gunman and saying, \u201cI saw you.\u201d<\/p>\n