Riddle of who shot dead mental patient, injured another and a guard

Investigations are underway to determine whose gun was used to shoot a psychiatric patient at a Limpopo hospital and who pulled the trigger.

This comes after the 33-year-old man was found dead inside a locked room at a psychiatric ward of Philadelphia Hospital in Dennilton, Groblersdal, at the weekend after allegedly being attacked by another mental patient.

According to Percy Moagi, the spokesperson for Limpopo health MEC, the gun that was used to shoot the man was found in the ward and has since been taken for ballistic tests.

Moagi confirmed to Sowetan that there were only four patients in the ward at the time. He said when security guards heard commotion from the ward, they rushed there, but their firearms only had rubber bullets and not live rounds.

"The security guards and police were called [during the chaos] and rubber bullets were fired. So, as to who shot  the other patient [who allegedly murdered the other] with live rounds we do not know, and the investigations are still underway. They will determine if the gun belonged to the police or the security [guards]," said Moagi.

However, police said when they arrived at the scene, they found that the patient was already dead and had already sustained the gunshot wounds in his head.

Limpopo police spokesperson Brig Hlulani Mashaba said officers who were on patrol at the time had responded to a report of an assault at the hospital.

"Upon arrival, they discovered a gruesome crime scene inside a locked room. A male suspect was found on top of a lifeless male body, covered in blood, and allegedly biting the deceased's genitals. The deceased sustained a gunshot wound on the head, along with multiple injuries, including missing teeth.  

"The suspect, 45, also suffered gunshot wounds on both legs, allegedly inflicted by a security officer who was attempting to diffuse the situation. He [the suspect] was immediately placed under police guard and is receiving medical treatment at a local hospital," Mashaba said.

"Additionally, a security guard sustained a gunshot wound on the thigh, reportedly caused by a ricochet bullet fired by his colleague during the incident. Several spent cartridges were recovered at the scene. The suspect has been formally arrested for murder."

According to Moagi, the wound the guard sustained was from a rubber bullet and not from live ammunition.

SowetanLIVE