Sne Masuku
A stashed gun found by a group of children in the garage of one of their homes proved lethal when it claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy.
Khanyisani Mngadi, 13, of N-section in Umlazi, Durban, was killed on Monday when a shot went off after one of the boys, aged 10, pulled the trigger to test whether the gun was real.
According to the dead boy's uncle, Mthokozisi Mngadi, the boys found the hidden gun wrapped in a cloth in the garage of the home where they were playing.
Mngadi said an argument erupted between the boys over whether the gun was real or not. One of them cocked the gun and fired in the direction of Khanyisani.
"After the shot went off, all the boys ran out of the garage. The bullet had hit the wall and bounced back, hitting Khanyisani in the head," said the distraught uncle.
Neighbours rushed to the house and found Khanyisani lying unconscious in a pool of blood, with a gunshot wound to the head.
Khanyisani, a Grade 6 pupil at Sekelani primary school in Umlazi, was rushed to Prince Mshiyeni Hospital where he was certified dead.
Police yesterday could not say whom the gun belongs to.
"We are still investigating. All we know is that the kids found the gun at the house where the incident happened," said Inspector Daniella Veldhuizen, who added that a murder docket has been opened.
Friend, 10, shot dead
Sne Masuku
A stashed gun found by a group of children in the garage of one of their homes proved lethal when it claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy.
Khanyisani Mngadi, 13, of N-section in Umlazi, Durban, was killed on Monday when a shot went off after one of the boys, aged 10, pulled the trigger to test whether the gun was real.
According to the dead boy's uncle, Mthokozisi Mngadi, the boys found the hidden gun wrapped in a cloth in the garage of the home where they were playing.
Mngadi said an argument erupted between the boys over whether the gun was real or not. One of them cocked the gun and fired in the direction of Khanyisani.
"After the shot went off, all the boys ran out of the garage. The bullet had hit the wall and bounced back, hitting Khanyisani in the head," said the distraught uncle.
Neighbours rushed to the house and found Khanyisani lying unconscious in a pool of blood, with a gunshot wound to the head.
Khanyisani, a Grade 6 pupil at Sekelani primary school in Umlazi, was rushed to Prince Mshiyeni Hospital where he was certified dead.
Police yesterday could not say whom the gun belongs to.
"We are still investigating. All we know is that the kids found the gun at the house where the incident happened," said Inspector Daniella Veldhuizen, who added that a murder docket has been opened.