Car thief shot at school
2005-01-14 12:49
Pretoria - A would-be car thief was shot in the parking lot outside a primary school in Pretoria while a parents' meeting was taking place inside the school on Thursday evening, police said.
Police spokesperson Inspector Percy Morokane said on Friday that a 60-year-old man who lives next to Doornkloof Primary School in Lyttleton was standing outside smoking when he heard a car's window being broken.
He had his private firearm on him and went to investigate. He saw two men "fiddling" with the engine of a Volkswagen Golf, while a third man was in the driver's seat.
One of the suspects drew a firearm and held the resident at gunpoint.
"He (the resident) managed to take out his firearm and fire a shot in the direction of the armed suspect," said Morokane.
One of the men, 20, was shot in the stomach while the others ran away. The 60-year-old man called the police.
Paramedics were called and the injured man was taken to hospital under police guard.
Police found later that a Volkswagen Jetta, registration AWN364GP, had been stolen, and a radio stolen out of a BMW.
Police suspect more people to have been involved in the incident.
The 20-year-old injured man, from Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, will be questioned once he is well enough to talk.
- SAPA