Seven people were shot dead in Finetown, Enerdale, south of Johannesburg on Saturday night when robbers targeted street vendors selling chicken feet,” Gauteng police said.
Among those that were killed were bystanders and street vendors. Another five people were injured from the incident. A total of eleven people were shot in the failed robbery.
The incident allegedly happened at the corner of Beatrice and Phillips Streets in Finetown, Enerdale on Saturday evening around 10pm.
“It is reported that about four suspects tried to rob the street vendors selling chicken feet, The vendors allegedly resisted and threw stones at the suspects and their vehicle’s rear window was damaged,” Brigadier Benda Mudirili, the provincial spokesperson said.
“The suspects drove off and came back on foot after a while, armed with firearms. They then shot at the vendors and bystanders.
“Three men and a woman died on the scene, while two women died on arrival in hospital. Another five men and a woman are being treat for gunshot wounds in hospital.”
“The provincial Serious and Violent Crimes, Murder and Robbery unit is following leads to trace and arrest the perpetrators,” said Mudirili.
According to a statement released on Sunday, one of the injured victims passed away in hospital earlier on Sunday.
“The provincial commissioner of the police in Gauteng Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has mobilised all necessary resources to investigate a case of six counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder following an incident that took place at the corner of Beatrice and Phillips Street in Finetown,” Mudirili added.
Source: Business Day, Eyewitness News, IOL, Sowetan Live, SABC News, image from Twitter: @LivePretoria