Cape Town — The community of Umlazi in Durban was left in shock after a 17-year-old mother was arrested for allegedly shooting her one-year-old toddler.
Police believe the young mother was handling a gun when it discharged, tragically resulting in the toddler’s death. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at the family’s home on Pigogo Road in Umlazi, TimesLIVE reported.
Initial reports indicate that the mother claimed the child was alone inside the house while she was sweeping the yard. She reportedly heard a gunshot and, upon investigating, found the toddler lying in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound to the forehead.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said that further details about the circumstances would be revealed when the mother makes her first court appearance.
“A lot more will be known when the suspect appears in court tomorrow [Thursday] but what we have for now is that she’ll be facing a charge of murder for allegedly shooting and killing her one-year-old son, which could have been a case of a mistake when he was playing with a gun,” Netshiunda said.
A 17-year-old mother has been arrested for accidentally shooting her one-year-old in Umlazi. It raised questions about firearm storage and safety, with authorities also investigating potential charges of negligence. #Newzroom405‘s @nobuhlemodise has more details.
Watch:… pic.twitter.com/YLuaSPRBUc
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) January 8, 2025
The investigation is ongoing as police and relevant departments collaborate to gather more information.
Netshiunda said authorities plan to engage with the family and obtain statements from others involved in the matter.
According to The Citizen, Netshiunda did not confirm whether the 17-year-old would be tried as an adult. However, the Child Justice Act has been applied in similar cases involving minors.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
