Halloween 'thief' was his son
2003-11-03 22:17
Adriaan Basson
Johannesburg - The father of a 22-year-old may face criminal charges after he mistook his son for a thief and "accidentally" shot him.
Frederik Pieter Coetzee, 47, from Rand-en-Dal on the West Rand apparently thought his son, Jason, was a thief trying to steal his car and shot him in the chest.
Jason is in a stable condition in Krugersdorp Private Hospital.
Superintendent Milica Bezuidenhout of Gauteng police said Jason and three of his friends were dressed in black with black hats for Halloween.
They apparently were standing in Coetzee's front yard near his car.
"The father saw the four men and asked them to identify themselves. They didn't answer and he fired a shot," said Bezuidenhout.
The investigating officer was still awaiting Jason's statement.
Coetzee did not want to comment on Monday about the shooting.
- Beeld