Man shoots ex-wife at church
2007-01-22 08:32
Cape Town - "I love you too much," a security guard shouted before he allegedly shot his ex-wife and mother of their three children at a church in Marina da Gama on Sunday morning before turning the gun on himself and wounding himself in the head.
Family members of Priscilla Harrison, 35, were inside the church at the time.
Philemon Rabukane, a security guard at Chubb security, was apparently seen outside the Fountain of Life Christian Church in East
Lake Island road in Marina da Gama at about 07:00.
Rabukane and Harrison got divorced about a year ago and she had since remarried.
According to Granville Felix, an usher at the church, Harrison and two family members parked their vehicle in the church parking lot at about 09:45.
Victim 'stalked'
"One of the women approached me and asked me to accompany them to the door, as the man was stalking/pestering her (Harrison)."
Rabukane apparently walked away a few steps, but suddenly turned around, pulled out a gun and shouted: "I love you too much."
He apparently shot his ex-wife before turning the gun on himself. According to Jeffrey Riffel, a member of the congregation, the bullet grazed the back of Rabukane's head.
"A tussle ensued and members of the congregation took the gun from him. Rabukane jumped into his car and raced away," said
Riffel.
Rabukane was still at large after fleeing in a white Toyota Corolla.
While members of the congregation and church leaders prayed with Harrison, the sermon was interrupted for a special prayer session.
Inconsolable family members also got support, said Riffel.
According to Riffel and Felix, Harrison screamed after the incident. She feared that her ex-husband had another firearm in the car.
They said Harrison was in severe pain, but "she is strong".
"As long as she is okay, we know that we serve a stronger God. He (Rabukane) knew Priscilla was deeply religious and that he would find her at the church," said Riffel.