Several young children were playing in a house in EJ Smith Crescent, Limit Hill in uMnambithi (Ladysmith) on Tuesday morning when a gun accidentally went off.

According to Ladysmith Gazette, 12-year-old Kendrick Kannemeyer, a learner from Limit Hill Combined Primary School, was hit in the head.

Friends carried him to the nearby Limit Hill Clinic, where he was transported by ambulance to Ladysmith Regional Hospital. He was later transferred to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital in Durban, where he was placed in a medically induced coma. He was accompanied by his father and mother.

Community in shock

Speaking at a candlelight vigil in Limit Hill last night, Pastor Gustav Meyer appealed to everyone to keep the family and Kendrick in their prayers. The community remains in shock after the accidental shooting.

Child suspect taken into custody

Local police spokesperson Warrant Officer Basheer Khan said: “A 12-year-old suspect was taken into custody by police on Tuesday morning after a shooting incident which occurred in the Limit Hill area. The suspect had allegedly accidentally shot a friend. He has since been released into the custody of a parent. The victim sustained a head injury and is receiving the necessary medical care.”

Khan added that the firearm used in the shooting has been confiscated by police.

Gun safety tips

Safely store guns and ammunition

• Store guns in a locked location, unloaded, out of the reach and sight of children.
• Store ammunition in a separate locked location, out of the reach and sight of children.
• Keep the keys and combinations hidden.
• When a gun is not being stored, it should be on your person and in your immediate control at all times. Otherwise, a gun should always be stored locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition.
• Make sure all guns are equipped with effective, child-resistant gun locks.
• If a visitor has a gun in a backpack, briefcase, handbag or an unlocked car, provide them with a locked place to hold it while they are in your home.
• Leaving guns on a nightstand, table or any place where a child can gain access may lead to injuries and fatalities.

Talk to your kids and their caregivers

• Explain how a gun your children might see on TV or in a video game is different from a gun in real life.
• Teach your children never to touch a gun and to immediately tell an adult if they see one.
• Talk to grandparents and the parents of friends your children visit about safe gun storage practices.

Dispose of guns you don’t need

If you decide you no longer need to have a gun in your home, dispose of it in a safe way. Consult with law enforcement in your community on how to do so.

Gun safety tips by Safe Kids Worldwide.

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