Masondo said the suspects first attacked people in a Toyota Etios on Fourth Avenue and Selborne Street firing shots at them, leaving one person wounded.
The second incident occurred at 11th Avenue and Boulevard Street, where the suspects confronted two people charging cellphones in a car during load-shedding. The assailants robbed the pair of their phones before shooting them. Both the victims were taken to medical care centres for treatment.
The suspects came across their next victim on Boulevard Street, where he was fatally shot.
Another victim was shot on Seventh Avenue, where he died on the scene, while two people were robbed of their cellphones and shoes.
Shot for cellphones and shoes: how ruthless Alex gang moved from street to street looking for victims
Image: Alon Skuy
Police are searching for four armed suspects who went on a shooting spree in Alexandra, Johannesburg, on Thursday night.
SAPS spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo said preliminary reports indicated five people were fatally shot and five injured in separate incidents at different places.
Gauteng provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Elias Mawela has assembled a team comprising different police units and other law enforcement agencies to search for the suspects.
Alex FM employee shot dead by gang terrorising Joburg suburb
Masondo said the suspects first attacked people in a Toyota Etios on Fourth Avenue and Selborne Street firing shots at them, leaving one person wounded.
The second incident occurred at 11th Avenue and Boulevard Street, where the suspects confronted two people charging cellphones in a car during load-shedding. The assailants robbed the pair of their phones before shooting them. Both the victims were taken to medical care centres for treatment.
The suspects came across their next victim on Boulevard Street, where he was fatally shot.
Another victim was shot on Seventh Avenue, where he died on the scene, while two people were robbed of their cellphones and shoes.
The suspects then attacked three people at Sixth Avenue. One was fatally wounded and the two others were taken for medical treatment.
The last shooting was apparently at Sixth Avenue and Roosevelt Road, where two people were shot inside a Toyota Avanza. Both died at the scene.
Police have opened five cases of murder, five of attempted murder and armed robberies.
A man was arrested after he was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition in Alexandra.
“The suspect is still being profiled to establish if he is linked to the shootings,” said Masondo.
“The firearm will be taken for ballistic tests to establish whether it was used in the commission of crime.”
Masondo said police management was concerned about the proliferation of firearms in Alexandra. “Operations to recover such weapons are continuing.”
Police are appealing to anyone who has information that could help in the investigation to call their nearest police station or Crime Stop on 08600-10111, or give a tip-off on the MySAPS app. All information received will be treated as strictly confidential.
TimesLIVE
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
MORE:
Multiple cellphones, cigarettes and toy guns: Trio bust in Mpumalanga
WATCH | Damelin tourism student shot 7 times relives horror of Soweto tavern attack
Police hunting for armed men who attacked Durban family while they prayed
'Planned attack': Protection rackets or miner gangs suspected as motives for tavern massacre
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most read
Latest Videos