NEED TO KNOW
- At least 12 people, including a 3-year-old child and two teenagers, were killed in a shooting at a bar
- The incident, which left over two dozen others injured, took place on Saturday, Dec. 6
- Police are currently searching for three suspects in relation to the shooting
At least 12 people were killed in a mass shooting this weekend.
Three gunmen “randomly” opened fire at people in a bar in a hostel in Saulsville, Africa, at around 4:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, Dec. 6, according to The Times, the BBC and South African outlet News 24.
Ten people died at the scene, and two others died in the hospital. Three of the victims were minors: a 3-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, the outlets reported, citing the South African Police (SAPS).
A total of 25 others were wounded in the shooting, per the outlets.
AP Photo
SAPS spokesperson Brig. Athlenda Mathe said in a statement to The Times, “We are told that the three-year-old is actually the child of the owner.”
“I think one of the minors is also a brother of the owner. So quite an unfortunate situation, but we have full faith and confidence in the team that has been established to get to the bottom of this case,” he added.
According to Mathe, authorities are currently searching for three suspects believed to be involved in the shooting incident.
He said police weren’t notified of the shooting until 6:15 a.m. The motive for the killings is currently unknown.
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AP Photo/STR
Mathe also told The Times the location where the shooting took place is an illegal bar, which are known locally as “shebeens.”
“These unlicensed liquor premises are posing a challenge for us because that is where most of these incidents happen, where people are being killed,” he explained.
“There are confrontations and misunderstandings that lead to people fighting and ultimately some losing their lives,” Mathe continued, adding to the outlet that nearly 12,000 of such locations have been shut down between April and September.
The Tshwane Metro Police Department is assisting the SAPS in their investigation of the incident.
The SAPS did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, Dec. 7.
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