One killed, one in hospital as drinking buddies shot in Verulam
DURBAN - One drinking buddy was shot and killed while the other was shot and injured during a shooting incident in an informal settlement in the Canelands, Verulam, north of Durban, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said Verulam SAPS were investigating a case of murder after on Saturday at 1am in Canelands, a 30-year-old was shot and killed by an unknown suspect while in a house. Another man, who was also in the house, was wounded and taken to hospital for medical attention.
Gwala said the matter was still under investigation.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram said that after 1am, a reaction officer was patrolling the area when he was flagged down by a resident who told him of the shooting. The officer was then directed to a wood and iron home on Station Road where he discovered an unresponsive man.
“Rusa medics were called out to the scene and found that the victim had been shot in the chest. He showed no signs of life and was declared dead. His 24-year-old friend who fled after the shooting approached first responders requesting assistance. He was shot in the abdomen,” Balram said.
“He explained that he and his friend were consuming alcohol when an unknown person kicked down the door. The suspect shot both the victims without warning. He fled the scene without taking anything. The injured man fled in fear that the suspect may return.”
Balram said the man was taken to hospital after he was stabilised on scene.
Two weeks ago police and Rusa were called out to a scene where three men, Sipho Mthethwa, 36, Mvuyiswa Mathumbu, 25, and Bongani, 29, (surname unknown), were shot and killed while drinking alcohol outside a home in Shayamoya, Hazelmere, also in Verulam, at around midnight.
Police said Mthethwa suffered four gunshot wounds to the chest, waist and left arm, while Mathumbu sustained five gunshot wounds to the head and upper body. Details of Bongani’s injuries were not provided.
Police said 10 cartridges were found at the scene.
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