Beledweyne, Somalia — A group of armed men shot and killed a traditional elder and chairman of Hiraan region traditional elders in Beledweyne on Tuesday, Garowe Online reports.

According to local sources, two gunmen shot and killed Mohamed Sheikh Hussein Marya'ade in the Yobsan market, a busy market in Beledweyne capital of Hiraan region.

A day after being chosen to represent the traditional elders in Hiraan region, traditional elder Marya'ade was gunned down in Beledweyne's busy market.

Authorities in Beledweyne said that one of the gunmen was arrested while the other escaped the law. The investigation is ongoing and police have leads on the individual, according to authorities in Beledweyne.

"We have one of the killers in custody, the other killer evaded police but the forces are pursuing him," said Chief of Police Issaq Ali.

The outrageous killing of the traditional elder shocked residents in Beledweyne that has been relatively peaceful since Al Shabaab were forces rooted out late December 2011.