A child and police officers were among the victims of three separate shooting incidents which occurred in Alex on 14 and 16 July.
Police spokesperson Captain Allie Kodisang said the first incident involved a nine-year-old girl who was shot in the leg at about 3pm on 14 July. She was taken to the Alex Clinic for treatment and released the same day. The shooting was witnessed and police are investigating.
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The second incident occurred the same day at about 10pm and involved a car chase and shooting between two youths and their victim. The suspects, who were driving a vehicle reported hijacked earlier in Tsutsumani, allegedly bumped the victim’s vehicle which was parked outside his 15th Avenue home, and drove off. The victim gave chase in his car and was allegedly shot at by the suspects. He returned fire and the suspects jumped out of their vehicle in 13th Avenue and ran away.
The damage to the victim’s car was estimated at R30 000. The stolen vehicle was returned to its owner with a bullet hole in the rear window, punctured tyres and a damaged engine. The owner’s iPhone and laptop which were in the vehicle when it was hijacked, were missing. Repairs to the vehicle were estimated at R25 000.
The third incident occurred at about 1.30 pm on 16 July and involved four police officers and an armed suspect. Two officers on patrol near the intersection of Alfred Nzo Avenue and Marry Themba Street saw the suspect running with a gun and being pursued by two other officers.
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When the suspect saw the two officers on patrol he allegedly opened fire on the four officers before crossing the Jukskei River and continuing towards East Bank. The patrolling officers got back into their vehicle and gave chase. They found him lying down, bleeding from the mouth and surrounded by a group of men. The men claimed he had fired at them but missed and that a friend of the suspect who was nearby took the gun and ran away. The suspect was taken to hospital under police guard. He will appear in court soon. None of the officers were injured.
Details: Alex Police Station 011 439 7718/9
