A tragic loss struck one family in Bethelsdal after a five-year-old girl died after she was accidentally shot by her six-year-old brother, Eastern Cape police said on Friday. The incident happened in Bethelsdorp on Thursday evening.
The Bethelsdorp police had initially opened a case of defeating the ends of justice when the girl was still in a critical state in hospital. A case of culpable homicide was opened after she passed away.
“It is alleged that between 1pm and 2pm two boys aged six and a five-year-old girl were playing with a firearm in a room at a house in Ext 31 when a shot went off,” said Pricilla Naidu, the Eastern Cape police spokesperson.
“It is further alleged one of the six-year-old boys accidentally shot his five-year-old sister in the head with a 38 revolver. The child was taken to hospital by ambulance in a critical condition but passed away last night,” said Naidu.
SAPS Bethelsdorp detectives have opened cases of defeating the ends of justice and culpable homicide.
Naidu said when the police arrived, the firearm was allegedly removed and could not be found, this led them to open a care of defeating the ends of justice.
More charges may be added, and arrests are imminent as the investigation unfolds.
Source: The Citizen, Times Live, News24, image from The Citizen: iStock