A 21-year-old man has died in hospital and a 13-year-old boy is recovering from a gunshot wound to the stomach after the pair were shot in Buren Street, Belhar, on Sunday morning.
The shooting unfolded at around 08:50 on Sunday, 1 November, leaving both victims wounded before they were rushed to a medical facility for emergency treatment.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg later confirmed that the 21-year-old victim had succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
“This office can confirm that the victim passed away in hospital,” Twigg said.
Teenager shot while walking to the shop
According to a member of the Belhar Community Policing Forum (CPF), the 21-year-old man was struck in the head and upper body during the attack.
“When I came from the Buren Lane shooting incident, the guy was still alive, but he was shot in the head and upper body. When I left it looked like he was not going to make it because Fire and Rescue said he isn't responsive,” the CPF member said.
The forum member added that the 13-year-old boy was shot in the stomach and rushed to Tygerberg Hospital. When asked if the teenager had been caught in the crossfire as an innocent bystander, the member said the boy was reportedly on his way to a nearby shop when the shooting happened.
Belhar police initially opened two counts of attempted murder following the morning attack.
“Police members were called to the crime scene where they found the victims with gunshot wounds to their bodies. Both victims were transported to a medical facility for treatment,” Twigg said.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and arrests are yet to be made.”
Second shooting in less than 12 hours
Sunday morning's bloodshed came less than 12 hours after another shooting along Belhar Drive, next to a petrol station, at around 21:45 on Saturday, 31 October.
In that incident, a 32-year-old man was shot in the lower back and taken to hospital for medical care.
A Belhar CPF member said several shots rang out during the Saturday night attack, adding that the local neighbourhood watch had confirmed the shooting was gang-related.
While police have opened an attempted murder docket, they noted that the motive remains under investigation and the gunmen fled the scene before officers arrived.
Anyone with information that could assist detectives is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit a tip-off anonymously via the MySAPS app.