Education Department official shoots dead his wife and goes on the run, before committing suicide - leaving their children without parents
FOUR children aged 15 and under have been orphaned after their father shot dead their mother, then turned the gun on himself.
Laurence Peters, 43, a senior education department official, shot his wife, Gcobisa, 43, during an argument at their flat on the St Albans prison grounds.
Gcobisa was a correctional services department assistant director at the prison, and Laurence a director at the education department’s King William’s Town office.
The children – aged between 8 and 15 years – were with family in Queenstown for the festive season.
Gcobisa transferred to Port Elizabeth from King William’s Town just a month ago. Laurence lived in King William’s Town.
While details remain sketchy, police said neighbours heard the couple arguing shortly before gunshots went off at about 7pm on Saturday.
Police spokesman Captain Stanley Jarvis said Laurence called correctional services director Mandla Jam, 53, and told him he had killed Gcobisa.
“Jam alerted the police after Laurence called him.
“When they arrived at the flat the door was locked and Laurence had already fled the scene in his Audi.
“A roadblock was set up near Van Stadens bridge as officials working at the prison told police that he had driven off towards the Jeffreys Bay direction,” he said.
Police kicked open the flat’s front door and found Gcobisa lying dead on the kitchen floor with a bullet wound to the head.
“An empty pistol holster was found inside the flat raising concerns that he [Laurence] had fled with the firearm,” Jarvis said.
“After the incident, police at the Van Stadens road block on the N2 decided to move towards Port Elizabeth to see if they could find Laurence’s car.
“About 7km from St Albans prison, they found the Audi parked alongside the N2 and Laurence lying next to the vehicle.”
Police suspect he shot himself. A pistol found near Laurence’s body was sent for ballistic testing and to determine who the legal owner was.
Department of Correctional Services spokesman Zama Feni was not available for comment.
The Herald
.
Four kids orphaned by family killing
Education Department official shoots dead his wife and goes on the run, before committing suicide - leaving their children without parents
FOUR children aged 15 and under have been orphaned after their father shot dead their mother, then turned the gun on himself.
Laurence Peters, 43, a senior education department official, shot his wife, Gcobisa, 43, during an argument at their flat on the St Albans prison grounds.
Gcobisa was a correctional services department assistant director at the prison, and Laurence a director at the education department’s King William’s Town office.
The children – aged between 8 and 15 years – were with family in Queenstown for the festive season.
Gcobisa transferred to Port Elizabeth from King William’s Town just a month ago. Laurence lived in King William’s Town.
While details remain sketchy, police said neighbours heard the couple arguing shortly before gunshots went off at about 7pm on Saturday.
Police spokesman Captain Stanley Jarvis said Laurence called correctional services director Mandla Jam, 53, and told him he had killed Gcobisa.
“Jam alerted the police after Laurence called him.
“When they arrived at the flat the door was locked and Laurence had already fled the scene in his Audi.
“A roadblock was set up near Van Stadens bridge as officials working at the prison told police that he had driven off towards the Jeffreys Bay direction,” he said.
Police kicked open the flat’s front door and found Gcobisa lying dead on the kitchen floor with a bullet wound to the head.
“An empty pistol holster was found inside the flat raising concerns that he [Laurence] had fled with the firearm,” Jarvis said.
“After the incident, police at the Van Stadens road block on the N2 decided to move towards Port Elizabeth to see if they could find Laurence’s car.
“About 7km from St Albans prison, they found the Audi parked alongside the N2 and Laurence lying next to the vehicle.”
Police suspect he shot himself. A pistol found near Laurence’s body was sent for ballistic testing and to determine who the legal owner was.
Department of Correctional Services spokesman Zama Feni was not available for comment.
The Herald
.
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