Seventeen killed in South Africa tavern shooting as police hunt eight suspects
Gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols killed 17 people and wounded 15 at a tavern in Wedela township southwest of Johannesburg on Saturday night; police have launched a manhunt for eight suspects and the motive remains unknown.
South African police have launched a manhunt after gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols killed 17 people and wounded 15 others at a tavern in the Wedela township southwest of Johannesburg on Saturday night.
The shooting happened at about 9.30pm at a tavern in Extension 3, Wedela, on the West Rand in Gauteng province, when about eight men arrived heavily armed and opened fire on patrons drinking inside and outside the venue, police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said. They then entered the premises and continued shooting people inside.
The suspects reportedly searched some patrons and took their cellphones before fleeing in two unidentified vehicles. Two vehicles were set alight during the incident, according to local media reports.
Emergency medical services declared all 17 victims — 13 men and four women — dead at the scene. A further 15 people sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to medical facilities for treatment.
Gauteng police have mobilised detectives and specialised units to identify and track down the suspects. Police have opened 17 counts of murder, 15 counts of attempted murder and two counts of malicious damage to property. No arrests have been made, and the motive for the shooting is not yet known.
Local outlets reported the scene has CCTV cameras which could assist investigators, and that some of the deceased were believed to be Lesotho nationals.
Sources
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