A Khutsong Extension 5 community member was shot after rushing to help a neighbour in need during the early hours of June 11.

The incident began at around 03:00 when a woman (23), living in the 60s section, was woken by a loud bang on her door.

A masked man dressed in dark clothes and boots stormed into her room wielding an assault rifle.

Speaking in Sesotho, the criminal demanded her cellphone, but she told him she did not own one.

The woman then began screaming and blowing a whistle to raise the alarm.

This panicked the intruder, who fled outside, but he ran straight into a neighbour who had come out to investigate the disturbance.

When the neighbour questioned what the man was doing there, the criminal ordered him to get out of the way.

As the brave neighbour reached down to pick up a rock to defend himself, the suspect shot him in the left thigh before fleeing the scene.

Fortunately, the neighbour was not seriously injured.

Carletonville Police are investigating cases of attempted house robbery and attempted murder.