A mass shooting at a tavern in Johannesburg’s Soweto township has killed four people and left eight injured, three in critical condition, according to police. Initially, the authorities reported 14 deaths and nine deaths, a figure that has been corrected by the Police spokesman.
Police say they are investigating reports that a group of men arrived in a minibus taxi and opened fire on some of the bar’s patrons on Saturday night. Police are removing the bodies of the deceased and investigating what had led to the mass shooting.
The three seriously injured and one other injured person were taken to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
The number of cartridges found at the scene indicates that it was a group of people who shot at the customers, Gauteng provincial police commissioner Lt. Gen. Elias Mawela said.
“The main investigation suggests that these people were enjoying themselves here, in a licensed tavern that was operating within the proper hours,” Mawela said.
“Suddenly they heard gunshots, that’s when people tried to run out of the tavern. We don’t have the full details at this time of what the motive is and why these people were attacked,” he explained.
“It looks like a high caliber firearm was used and they fired randomly. We know that every single one of those people was struggling to get out of the tavern,” Mawela told AP.
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