Hostage taker shoots himself

2009-01-11 16:24

Johannesburg - The 30-year-old man who shot dead his girlfriend, wounded a police officer and held a woman hostage in Sebokeng has killed himself, Vaal police said on Sunday.

Inspector Kinnie Steyn said the man came out of the house in which he had been holding the 51-year-old woman hostage shortly before noon on Sunday and shot himself.

"The woman is very traumatised and she is now receiving counselling," Steyn said.

Police earlier said the woman killed was the man's wife but it later emerged she was his girlfriend.

The shootings took place after police, responding to a suicide report, arrived at the man's house on Sunday morning.

"When police arrived at the house, he shot one of the officers in the face, seriously injuring him. He then went back into the house and shot dead his 24-year-old girlfriend," Steyn said.

The shot officer is being treated at a local hospital.

Following the shooting, the man ran from his house into one of the houses a few blocks away.

"It is not known why he went into that house, but he held the woman there hostage," Steyn said.

At 11:50, the man came out of the house with his hostage, and turned the gun on himself.

- SAPA