Girl, 12, stable after being shot 3 times

Lavender Hill child caught in gang crossfire on way home

A12-YEAR-old girl is lucky to be alive after being shot three times in the chest, apparently after being caught in gang crossfire in Lavender Hill. She is in a stable condition at the Red Cross War Memorial Hospital.

Police spokesman Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana said the incident took place on Saturday at around 1.55pm at Arundel Court.

The girl was on her way home when she was shot.

Kinana said she had been playing outside when she heard gunshots and ran home. While running she was hit by the bullets.

The girl was rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

Hospital spokeswoman Angelique Jordaan said the bullets hit the left side of her chest.

“She is in stable condition and is doing quite well.” Kinana said no arrests had been made. He said the motive for the shooting was unknown, but police were investigating a case of attempted murder.

Meanwhile, Mitchells Plain police confiscated close to 6 000 packets of tik and five firearms in a series of operations in the past week.

Last Monday, after receiving a tip-off, police raided a house in Honolulu Street in Tafelsig and confiscated 5 999 small packets of tik, 1 346 mandrax tablets and 200 dagga packets.

The drugs have an estimated street value of R318 022.

A 51-year-old man was found at the house and was arrested for possession of illegal drugs.

Earlier that same day at around 11.25am, a 25-year-old murder suspect was arrested after he was found with a 0.22mm pistol on him.

It is alleged that the suspect and his accomplice shot two men in Symphony Walk at the Town Centre.

Kinana said: “Three victims were sitting and eating in Symphony Walk when they were approached by two unknown males that asked to sit with the victims. Then suddenly one suspect took out a firearm and started shooting at the victims.”

The victims were aged between 22 and 35-years old.

The 35-year-old victim died at the scene with head injuries while the 22-year-old was shot behind the ear.

He was rushed to the Mitchells Plain Day Hospital for treatment.

At around 5pm, during another police patrol in Rocklands, police received information about stored firearms.

Kinana said police arrived at a house in Aquamarine Street where they confiscated one Beretta shotgun with ammunition, a mortar explosives device and four packets of tik.

Two suspects aged between 21 and 27 were apprehended.