Boy, 10, shoots girl, 6
Erongo chief regional investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Otillie Kashuupulwa has issued a stern warning to gun owners following an incident in which a 10-year-old boy shot and injured a six-year-old girl in Kuisebmond in Walvis Bay.
“I want to warn members of the public not to leave their firearms unattended. How did this child know how to get the firearm? The keys to the safe must not be left unattended either. You should be in possession of the keys at all times,” said Kashuupulwa adding that the father of the boy will be charged with negligent handling of a firearm.
According to Kashuupulwa, the boy was left alone at home with his friends, the victim and her nine-year-old brother, when the incident occurred around 17:00.
“The children were watching TV in the bedroom where the safe is kept. The boy took the safe keys from the wardrobe and unlocked the safe. He took his father’s firearm from the safe and while he was trying to remove the cartridge, the firearm went off accidently and the girl was shot in her left eye,” said Kashuupulwa.
The girl was rushed to the state hospital in Walvis Bay and was later transferred to the state hospital in Windhoek. According to Kashuupulwa, although the victim lost her eye, she is still alive but the bullet has not been removed yet.
“The father is a fisherman. He left his son alone at home to go out to sea. The lady who was supposed to look after the child was still on her way to the house when the incident occurred. Unfortunately we have to charge the father.”
According to her, the father has not returned from sea yet. “He will be charged as soon as he gets back,” Kashuupulwa said.
Jessica Botes
“I want to warn members of the public not to leave their firearms unattended. How did this child know how to get the firearm? The keys to the safe must not be left unattended either. You should be in possession of the keys at all times,” said Kashuupulwa adding that the father of the boy will be charged with negligent handling of a firearm.
According to Kashuupulwa, the boy was left alone at home with his friends, the victim and her nine-year-old brother, when the incident occurred around 17:00.
“The children were watching TV in the bedroom where the safe is kept. The boy took the safe keys from the wardrobe and unlocked the safe. He took his father’s firearm from the safe and while he was trying to remove the cartridge, the firearm went off accidently and the girl was shot in her left eye,” said Kashuupulwa.
The girl was rushed to the state hospital in Walvis Bay and was later transferred to the state hospital in Windhoek. According to Kashuupulwa, although the victim lost her eye, she is still alive but the bullet has not been removed yet.
“The father is a fisherman. He left his son alone at home to go out to sea. The lady who was supposed to look after the child was still on her way to the house when the incident occurred. Unfortunately we have to charge the father.”
According to her, the father has not returned from sea yet. “He will be charged as soon as he gets back,” Kashuupulwa said.
Jessica Botes
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