A nine-month-old baby, and two women have been killed after susoected gunmen opened fire on a home in a residential area in the South African city of Cape Town on Tuesday.

Reports noted that the incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Tuesday when the perpetrators entered a home at Sunbird Court in Athlone before shooting the occupants of the building.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the bodies of the infant and two women aged 25 and 36, riddled with gunshot, were found on the scene.

Two other adult men found injured from gunshot wounds on the scene by police officers were taken to a medical facility for treatment.

“SAPS in the Western Cape strongly condemns the senseless and brutal killing of three people, including an infant, in a shooting incident last night, 17/02, 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,” the police said in a statement on X.

Speaking further, the police noted that the motive for the shooting was still unclear, stating that preliminary information suggested that three unknown suspects, who are still at large, fled the scene.

“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,” the police said.

The police added, “Detectives attached to the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit are leading the investigation. All available resources have been mobilised to trace and apprehend those responsible for this heinous crime.”