Police officer kills two family members before turning gun on himself
The bloodbath followed a late-night domestic dispute that spilled over into a Limpopo village and left two other relatives fighting for their lives in hospital.
A late-night domestic dispute ended in a bloodbath when an off-duty police sergeant tracked his estranged wife to her parental home near Dennilton, killing his mother-in-law and stepson and critically wounding his wife and teenage daughter before turning the gun on himself, reports Polokwane Review.
According to Limpopo police, the shooting happened shortly after 01:00 in the early hours of Sunday morning (June 28) in Tayereni Village in the Limpopo province
The suspected gunman, a 52-year-old SAPS sergeant attached to Soshanguve, later died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound as police closed in to arrest him.
The sequence of events
Police say the officer and his wife had been experiencing domestic problems. Following an altercation in Soshanguve, an informal settlement in Pretoria North, the woman travelled to her parental home in Tayereni Village with her mother.
The sergeant later arrived at the house and opened fire, fatally shooting his mother-in-law (68) and his stepson (29). His wife (46) and their daughter (14) were also shot and seriously injured. Both managed to escape the onslaught and were rushed to hospital, where they are receiving medical treatment.
Suspect found dead
A manhunt was launched immediately after the massacre. Police traced the suspect to his residence in Dennilton, but as officers prepared to arrest him, he shot himself. He died at the scene.
Investigators are still determining whether the firearm used was an official SAPS issued weapon or privately owned. Two firearms and ammunition were seized for forensic examination.
IPID takes over
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has taken over the investigation.
Limpopo provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe extended her condolences to the bereaved family and wished the two injured victims a speedy recovery.
Condemning the incident, Hadebe urged people experiencing domestic violence to seek help before situations escalate.
“This is a deeply disturbing and tragic incident that has robbed a family of their loved ones. We condemn this senseless act of violence in the strongest possible terms,” Hadebe said.
The investigation is continuing.
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