Boy, 5, kills cousin with father's gun 

A five-year-old boy who found his father's gun in a
drawer killed his cousin and aunt with a single shot.

Police in Atlantis near Cape Town, South Africa, say
the youngster thought the firearm was a toy and cannot
be charged with the killings.

Detectives who questioned his father say the man earlier
took the gun from his safe because he had seen some
"unsavoury characters" nearby but he failed to lock it
up again.

The youngster found it, walked into a room where his
family was, and fired at his 12-year-old cousin. He died
later in hospital but an aunt, who was stood behind, was
killed instantly by the same bullet.

A police spokesman said the child was too young to realise
what he has done. He said: "These children play cops and
robbers all the time - you shoot a guy, he falls down and
then he gets up."

The boy's father is being charged with failing to safeguard
the gun according to the Cape Times newspaper.

Last updated: 12:48 Tuesday 22nd August 2000.


Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org

List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
___________________________________________________________
T O P I C A  The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics

Reply via email to