The Phoenix SAPS Trio Crimes Unit is investigating two cases of murder and one attempted murder following the fatal shooting of a man and woman in separate allegedly drugs related incidents in Phoenix last week.
In the first incident, a 23-year-old woman was fatally shot while a 28-year-old man, who was in her company, sustained gunshot wounds after they were targeted by a gun wielding suspect along the Phoenix Highway on Wednesday, 12 April. The spokesperson for SAPS Phoenix Captain Louise Naidoo said: “The 28-year-old African male was walking with the deceased, Ayanda Moya, on the Phoenix Highway. The suspect, who is known to the man, emerged from the nearby bushes and started shooting at them. Moya sustained gunshot wounds to her left leg as well as chest and succumbed to her injuries at the scene. The 28-year-old victim was rushed to hospital in an ambulance for the gunshot wounds he sustained on his groin area and right buttock.”
She added: “Police investigations have revealed that the man who was shot owed a drug dealer based in Mount Moriah money to the value of R2000. No arrests have been made as yet. The suspect has been identified as Siphiwe and police investigations into the drug-related shooting are under way.”
Prem Balram, head of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), who were among the first responders at the scene, said that a passerby contacted their offices at approximately 10.44am regarding a shooting incident. Balram said all available reaction officers and paramedics were immediately dispatched.
“On arrival, the injured man was located in a prone position on the pavement. He sustained a gunshot wound to his right buttock. His wife was located on the opposite side of the road, bleeding extensively from a penetrating wound to her chest. She showed no signs of life and was declared deceased. According to the injured male, he and his wife are heroin addicts. Their drug supplier and his brother allegedly tracked the two down and shot them after they failed to settle their debt of R2000,” added Balram.
Meanwhile in a separate incident, a 25 year old man was also shot and killed in an alleged drug-related shooting in Grove End, Phoenix on Saturday, 15 April. Captain Louise Naidoo confirmed the incident and said: “Phoenix police are investigating a case of murder after a 25-year-old Coloured male known as Teage Cole Young, was shot and fatally wounded by unknown suspects in Wavemore Crescent around 1.30pm on Saturday. Reports indicate that the deceased and two other friends were washing his car outside the premises when two African males approached them. The suspects reportedly asked the deceased if he had drugs for them and when he told them to leave, the gunmen fired several shots at him and was declared dead on the scene.”
She said: “The suspects fled on foot towards the Phoenix Highway and possibly jumped into a gold Avanza with partial numbers seen as NJ64. It is also alleged that the two suspects had been seen inside the gold Avanza parked across the street on Phoenix Highway that same morning. There was a bullet hole on the rear window of the victim’s car and one live round was found at the scene. There were more than 15 rounds fired at the scene. No cameras could be located near the crime scene. The Trio Crimes Unit is currently investigating the fatal shooting.”
Prem Balram said: “Members of Reaction Unit South Africa were called out to the scene after residents reported multiple shots being fired at a Blue VW Polo. On arrival, Reaction Officers discovered the South African Police Service in attendance. The body of a deceased male was located outside a block of flats. This was the third drug related shooting that Reaction Officers attended to in one week.”
