Recap: All the details on the Pretoria hostage drama

A Pretoria man committed suicide on Wednesday night after he shot dead three people in a hostage drama at the Meadows Estate in Moreleta Park, reports the Pretoria East Rekord.

Spokesperson Dave Miller said a special police task team found the man dead in his house after five hostages were rescued earlier. He had turned the firearm, a rifle, on himself.

“Four people, including the shooter, died from life-threatening injuries,” Miller said.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said that at about 9.55pm last night, paramedics declared four people dead.

“We had five staff members at the scene. An emergency care practitioner, three intermediate life support paramedics, and a basic life support paramedic were in attendance. The four people were declared dead at the scene. All four were found to have sustained gunshot wounds.”

A reliable source on the scene said the wife of the shooter was not home during the first half of the ordeal, but she did witness some of the shootings later on. She received trauma counselling on the scene afterwards.

According to residents, the shootings were apparently sparked by a dispute on Wednesday morning.

An elderly neighbour confronted the culprit, believed to be in his 50s, on Wednesday morning after he hurled a rock through the window of the woman’s car.

The caretaker, Edward Gobey, was called to the scene by another resident. Gobey and two other people were gunned down by the man.

A neighbour, Laccollene Raubenheimer, said they heard several shots at about 12.30pm on Wednesday.

“We were on our way to lunch when we drove right into the scene. Two people were lying in the road, one on his stomach and the other on his back. Both men had sustained gunshots to their heads. There were a lot of blood. It was a terrible sight.  It was obvious from the gunshot wounds that a rifle was used.”

A reliable source from the scene said the bodies of the victims were lying on the road for hours inside the estate, as police and emergency services could not reach them.

“The man fired shots from his house at paramedics when they tried to reach the victims.”

Two police officers and three security guards were held hostage on Wednesday afternoon. They were rescued later.

A graphic photo of the victims was shared on social media and public WhatsApp groups.

Earlier in the afternoon, a police helicopter was dispatched to the scene in Bolo Street, Moreleta Park, in the east of Pretoria.

A police negotiator was called to speak to the armed man earlier.

Pretoria East Rekord spoke to several neighbours, who said the man had a history of aggressive conduct. He allegedly shot and killed his neighbour’s dog about a year ago.

“Residents have been complaining about the man. According to my knowledge, several petitions were drawn up by residents of the estate to get the man and his family to move out.”

Residents in the estate and surrounding complexes were parked outside of the scene for hours. They were only allowed access to their homes by 10pm on Wednesday evening.

Charlize Gobey, daughter of the caretaker, asked on Facebook on Wednesday morning for people to pray for her dad shortly after the news broke of the shootings. “Guys, please pray for my dad. He might be one of the men shot, and no one will give us any information….. please please please pray……”

She later confirmed that her dad was in fact one of the victims who were shot dead.

– Caxton News Service