A Hanover Park girl is fighting for her life in hospital after being struck in the neck by a gang bullet on Saturday.
Relatives of Cleo Milton, 17, say they watched in disbelief as the girl lay in the street bleeding while her friend used a doekie to try and stop the blood.
Aunt, Chanelle, 29, says the meisie was sitting on an electric box shortly before 7am on Saturday when gunshots rang out in Rywood Walk.
“I was in the house, but I was still sleeping when my mommy said there were gunshots,” Chanelle says.
“I looked out the window and one of the children shouted they shot Cleo.
“I ran down and got a skrik when I saw her laying there.
“One of her friends took a doekie to stop the blood, but her head started to swell.”
HIT BY STRAY BULLET: Cleo Milton
Chanelle says a neighbour picked up the unconscious teen and rushed her to Hanover Park Day Hospital.
“But when they got there they were told they must go to Heideveld [Emergency Centre], she was there till about 1pm until they moved her to hospital.”
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, says Philippi police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting,” Rwexana says.
“According to information a 17-year-old girl was shot and wounded by a stray bullet. She was taken to a hospital for medical attention.
“No one has been arrested so far.”
Chanelle says the family has been left traumatised and are praying for Cleo’s full recovery.
“They told us there is so much swelling in her brain that they can’t even see yet where the bullet is sitting. We are waiting to hear when they will operate.”
SCENE: Cleo, 17, was shot in Hanover Park