Contrary to what has been announced on Facebook, the three occupants of a car who were injured in a shooting in Sunward Park on Friday are alive.
One of the occupants was a toddler.
Police told the Advertiser this morning (November 23) the little one is in stable condition, while the two other victims, a man, and the child’s mother, are in critical condition.
The misinformation about their deaths was posted on the Graphite Security Facebook page on the morning of November 21.
The incident causing their injuries happened on the corner Rondebult Road and Kingfisher Avenue at about 8am on November 20.
According to Capt Kay Makhubele, Gauteng police spokesperson, the police have launched a manhunt for the gang of four men who ambushed the victims in the white BMW.
“The suspects’ car, believed to be a white Ford Ranger, bumped the BMW on the right-hand side then blocked the car before two of the attackers opened fire. They fled the scene in another Ford vehicle, leaving the bakkie behind,” he said.
The driver, an alleged leader of the 28s gang, 62-year-old Ernest “Ernie” Solomon, died on the scene while the passengers were rushed to hospital – the child by reaction officers on scene and the man and woman by air.
It was revealed 22 cartridges were found on the scene and that the Ranger used by the gunmen was reported stolen in KwaZulu-Natal.
Boksburg Advertiser queried the information provided by the security company on Saturday and the owner of Graphite Security told this publication they enquired at a local hospital where the child was taken after the shooting before being transferred to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
“The hospital confirmed the child died in the early hours of this morning (November 21), as well as the male and female victims,” the owner said.
On Monday morning, the security company also admitted they may have received wrong information from the hospital, as they later received information from the child’s father thanking them for coming to the child’s rescue during the shooting.
The father reportedly told the company the child was recovering in hospital. Boksburg Advertiser apologises for repeating incorrect information, at the time confirmed by the owner of Graphite Security.
Makhubele said the motive for the attack remains unclear at this stage.
A well-placed source told the Advertiser the child’s mother is Solomon’s daughter, and the man who was in the car with the family was his worker.
Information received suggests Solomon was on his way to drop off his daughter in Boksburg before they were ambushed.
It was also revealed that Solomon was staying on a plot in Pretoria.
Police are investigating a case of murder and three attempted murder cases.
Anyone with information that can lead to the arrests of the suspects should contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
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BREAKING NEWS: One killed, 3 injured in Sunward Park shooting
