Case opened in tragic accidental shooting

2012-05-18 22:10

Johannesburg - A case of culpable homicide has been opened after a Centurion man accidentally shot his daughter when their house was broken into on Friday, Gauteng police said.

Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said no arrests had been made and police were investigating the incident.

The man was awoken by a commotion at his house on Glover Street on Friday morning.

He went upstairs to fetch his firearm when he heard commotion near the door, said Dlamini.

He fired a shot which hit his 8-year-old daughter in the head.

"She was taken to hospital in a critical condition, where she died," said Dlamini.

Jannie Raadt, the principal of the school the girl attended, told eNews that she was a smart child. The Grade 2 girl was in his office on Wednesday showing him how well she was doing in class, he said.

The school had told her classmates and their parents on Friday morning what had happened.

Earlier, Beeld newspaper reported that the father had heard dogs bark, went downstairs to investigate and spotted a robber in the house.

He ran back up to his bedroom, slammed the door and took his firearm from the safe. At that stage, his daughter had woken up and wanted to go into her parent's bedroom.

When she turned the door knob, her father thought it was one of the intruders and fired a shot.

He opened the door and found her lying there.

Comments

• Ricardo - 2012-05-18 22:21

  Heart breaking.

  Squeegee - 2012-05-18 22:37

  Tragic. Hope that something like this never happens to you.

  iainrhind - 2012-05-19 06:26

  Although this is a really heartbreaking story, and the father will never be able to forgive himself, the situation could have been avoided. The article states that he shot through the closed door. If he had waited a few seconds to identify the person at the door, he would have seen that it was his daughter and thus not fired the shot. Having said that, I can understand his position. I have also been the victim of an armed robbery (in Mozambique), and know what it feels like. In every case of fatal shooting the police must investigate, so they are correct in opening a case of culpable homicide. I just hope that they draw the conclusion that it was unintentional. I hope so for the family's sake. As a note, it is a myth that a warning shot needs to be fired. There is no such provision in the Firearms Control Act.

  Janice - 2012-05-19 10:30

  Imagin what that poor man is going through! No words to describe it...

  Tuco - 2012-05-19 13:20

  His family has been ripped to pieces. I think they must put him on suicide watch. He must be going through hell that none of us can imagine right now. Up until his dying day he will for ever be haunted by this situation. just the thought of it myself in that position gives me the shakes.

• Ntokozo Lima - 2012-05-18 22:34

  Ja may The good Lord strengthen him.

• Isabel - 2012-05-18 22:55

  What a Sad WORLD WE LIVE IN,,, That we have to have guns to protect our family, So SAD... R.I.P. and May the sweet Lord be with the Family too.

• sello.molekwa.1 - 2012-05-18 23:01

  Can't they just understand and stop laying charges against this man? The accidental death of their pretty young girl is devastating already, and now there will be courts and jail for the father on top of this pain? The marriage is most probably going to be wrecked by all these circumstances!

  Johann - 2012-05-18 23:21

  Could not agree with you more man. No sanction given by any court will be able to equal or better the agony the poor guy is in already, not that he earned any either.

  Shadipity - 2012-05-19 22:07

  If a case is not opened and investigated it leaves a huge loophole for others to murder and claim that it was an accident. This is to protect the victem and their family and I do not know of oneother country that does not follow the same procedure in cases like this. This is truely a very heartbreaking situation, my thought are with the family.

  Shadipity - 2012-05-19 22:10

  On a side note I believe that when the robbers are caught they should be charged with her murder. If not for their actions this situation would never of happened.

• Sylvester.Mohloli - 2012-05-18 23:20

  Yho, m glad im nt in his shoes, may her soul RIP, this is beyond sad :'(

• Man - 2012-05-18 23:30

  My condolences to the family and strength to the father that lost the apple of his eye.

• tanja.jaehne - 2012-05-18 23:38

  What a tragedy. Don't judge this poor man. He panicked and was just trying to protect his family. May God give you the strength to deal with this nightmare.

• bnnyoni - 2012-05-18 23:39

  Gun Free South Africa

  rudiwaan.joseph - 2012-05-19 04:56

  Gun Free SA yeah! Well start with the thieves, hijackers, robbers and rogues FIRST! When you have successfully done that we'll talk.

  iainrhind - 2012-05-19 06:32

  The first step in a gun free SA is to get rid of the illegal weapons in the hands of criminals. @Christopher and anyone else thinking of buying a firearm for self defence - after you buy your gun, do yourself and your family a favour by joining a recognised gun club and becoming completely familiar with the weapon. Preferably join one that is involved with IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association).

  Lyndon - 2012-05-19 06:40

  How about a Rape free, Murder free, Corrupt free, Robbery free, A-hole free South Africa first!

  Simon - 2012-05-19 07:12

  It's not the firearm that kills, it's the person behind the firearm !!

  George - 2012-05-19 07:45

  And pigs can fly. You want to disarm the law abiding citizens leaving them easier pray for the criminals who will never give up their guns. That's why they are called criminals.

  simphiwe.tembe.16 - 2012-05-19 08:06

  Gun free SA is good cos these guns we buy get stolen or lost

  AnthonyfromAfrica - 2012-05-19 08:32

  Bnnyoni, You are quite right, tragedies like these and a large reduction n violence will only come about with a GUN FREE SA. But this has to go hand in hand with a top police force and an efficient judiciary. At present, the problem is not, too many guns, but the fact that if you commit a crime, the chances that you will be arrested, charged, convicted and spend time in jail, is FAR TOO LITTLE But ultimately the answer is ; A GUN FREE SA, Where if you even just get caught with a fire arm, you spend 20 years in jail!! That would be the start of some "normal" soceity!!

• Jay Marian - 2012-05-18 23:42

  Tragic story, however if the house-breakers are indeed arrested they get off very lightly.

  Lawrence Meyer - 2012-05-19 13:54

  Not so lightly bud, they get a proper hiding before they get into the back of the van. But yep, they get out most of the time because people don't feel like the hassle of going to court and wasting a whole day there just to get postponed again and again and again.. Nevermind that perhaps fingerprints don't get taken or other evidence is not found or even lost.

• Sagebrush - 2012-05-18 23:53

  How do civilized people stay sane in this country of ours? Are we cursed to live like under these circumstances forever?

• Isaac - 2012-05-18 23:59

  ProTiP here: aim for adult head height when firing through a door. That way the bullet will pass over a child's head. Also, by law the guy should have fired a warning shot. He should also have trained his kids to use a coded challenge and reply. It's not difficult to be a responsible gun owner. Seriously.

  Johann - 2012-05-19 00:02

  In the heat of the moment, nobody can predict how they will respond... but I do get what you mean. Gun training does sadly not include common sense as one of the training modules.

  mbele.nkululeko - 2012-05-19 06:30

  WTF are you on about? You just had to be smart instead of understanding.No two-year-old would have responded tactically in such a panick driven situation.All the crap you've just mentioned becomes of no use when you have intruders in your home at night.All he had in mind was protecting his family at the time.

  mbele.nkululeko - 2012-05-19 06:30

  WTF are you on about? You just had to be smart instead of understanding.No two-year-old would have responded tactically in such a panick driven situation.All the crap you've just mentioned becomes of no use when you have intruders in your home at night.All he had in mind was protecting his family at the time.

  Zethu Ngema - 2012-05-19 06:46

  my condolences to the family, This too shall Pass, to think that we are not safe in our own homes,makes me wonder, how is this country going to be in 20years

  Sylvester.Mohloli - 2012-05-19 09:51

  now u talking high grade ish, nowhere in the firearms act does it talk about warning shots, actually it warns against warning shots, that so called warning shot might actually end up being a stray bullet that ricochets nd still hits the child, bottom line is stfu if u aint got non better to say, back to the story, RIP young one

  Lawrence Meyer - 2012-05-19 13:36

  Although I agree with you mate, you still need to take ricochet into account, Best is to take cover around a wall, and confirm your target before shooting. Even if your child was between you and the target, even then, perhaps a warning shot will be enough to scare away the threat. There's too many factors to take into account. One needs to take the situation into account and always be prepared, and here's one of the many 'what ifs' that's floating around, what if he took his firearm with him in the first place? Perhaps he could have avoided his child getting shot and still have neutralized/scarred off the threat. As a gun owner and sportsmen I still feel the necessary for them, but think about it, what good can ce from a gun?

  Koos - 2012-05-19 15:55

  @Mbele. With u all the way. The stupid News24 bloggers and blog readers seem 2 respond 2 the name and not the issue. Training Modules? FFS get real people. This man DID NOT INTEND 2 KILL HIS SMALL CHILD.

• gesigboekie - 2012-05-19 00:07

  So sad,don't know how a parent gets through something like this. May God comfort and hold you close to Him in this time and always.

• Mohubedu - 2012-05-19 01:12

  i just hope da guy fogiv himself.dat was so unfotunate

• Deana - 2012-05-19 02:37

  My deepest condolences to tHe family! Dad, we pray that in time you will forgive yourself and Mom, that God helps you forgive your husband, as it was an honest mistake. Try to honor your little girl by remembering her life and not just how she so sadly lost her life. May God give you the courage and strength you are desperately going to need to face the future bravely! SA's parents are standing behind, crying with and praying for you.

• unathi.mazomba - 2012-05-19 02:46

  this is a sad story but i dnt think the police should arrest the father because he ddnt shoot the child intentionally.

  Ayefeli Mudau - 2012-05-19 02:51

  this is a sad news

• Keabetswe Prince Mathabathe - 2012-05-19 03:47

  am tryin 2 picture myself in his position ryt nw. I dnt think i wld manage 2 live knowin dat i shot my daughter however i hope dat de Man's family support him cos he really needs support nw more dan eva b4. My sincere condolenses

• Keabetswe Prince Mathabathe - 2012-05-19 03:48

  am tryin 2 picture myself in his position ryt nw. I dnt think i wld manage 2 live knowin dat i shot my daughter however i hope dat de Man's family support him cos he really needs support nw more dan eva b4. My sincere condolenses

• jaysonpaul.beckwith - 2012-05-19 06:12

  I was so saddened by the story yesterday. Isn't it bad enough what the poor father has to go through. Now he has to face a case of homicide opened against him. My heart goes out to this family in this time of sorrow. May God give them strength.

• muofhe.mutelemutobvu - 2012-05-19 06:24

  it is very sad u have 2 live in fear in ur own home.it is gonna eat him day after day dat he killed his daughter.may God please help him recover.

• Simon - 2012-05-19 07:14

  Truly sad situation ... I know it's easy to say after the event but why didn't take his daughter with him into the room when he ran upstairs and then take his forearm out to protect his family. How can you protect your family when they're not even around him at the time !! ... but still, very tradgic !!

  Sylvester.Mohloli - 2012-05-19 09:45

  huh?

• George - 2012-05-19 07:42

  This again is the direct result of the breakdown of effective law and order where people live on the edge expecting an attack at any moment. The SA government is indirectly to blame. BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY NOW.

• RemoteMedic - 2012-05-19 07:56

  This is tragic! I can't even imagine what this father must be going through at the moment. ANC rather focus on fighting crime than worry about paintings depicting the truth!

• sibongile.m.mbatha - 2012-05-19 07:57

  Da cops shud liv him alone,he hs 2 liv wit himself 4 shootin his own daughter instead dey shud luk 4 da robbers

  ringobeni - 2012-05-19 12:14

  yep thats true, the dad was trying to protect the chiled in the scene, but only to find out the chiled had already thought of protecting her self by consulting the parents. Its a sad story true, but the dad should be found guilty of any charge

  thandazab - 2012-05-19 15:33

  Just wondering y so many ppl r disliking this comment.

• Surita Sommerville - 2012-05-19 08:04

  Just heard from a reliable source that it was in actual fact the robbers that shot the child and not the dad. Still shocking and sad, sad news. My heart goes out to the family.

  kerry.l.field - 2013-02-18 00:31

  What utter rubbish you speak. Glenn Boshoff admitted that he pulled the trigger and it was his bullet that killed his daughter. Idie was trying to open her parents bedroom door at the time the shot went off. Glenn told me himself that Idie was behind his bedroom door because as he pulled the trigger, he waited for a second then opened the bedroom door to find Idie lying on the floor. When he looked down at her she was moaning and making sounds like she was dreaming. He said that he will NEVER forget the sounds that she made. At first Glenn looked at Idie and thought she looked just like a sleeping Angel and then after the reality hit him, he realised what had just happened and as he bent down to pick her up, he only then realised that her one side of her head had blood pouring out of it. He was the one whom screamed for his Wife to get the car and that they must get to a hospital which was close by to their complex. Glenn Boshoff did NOT intentionally kill his daughter nor did he have any idea that it was in fact his daughter on the other side of the bedroom door.

• Jacques - 2012-05-19 13:13

  it is only a sad tragic and heartbreaking story.

• Koos - 2012-05-19 15:58

  PEOPLE. There is something terribly wrong with us all. Look at the posts. Look at the mixed message we r sending 2 ourselves!!

• thandazab - 2012-05-19 16:03

  Just wondering what kind of ppl read diz news!! Ppl are sympathizing and offering condolences, comfort and support to the family n they dislike the comments!! Bathong wats wrong wif some ppl!

• Khetha Hlophe - 2012-05-20 00:04

  People do not worry the meaning of thumbs down has changed. If something is good all thumbs will be down and vise versa.

• flysouth - 2012-05-20 09:33

  The report above is inadequate as it seems to suggest that the shot was fired through a closed door. If that is the case then the shooter is quite out of order and has not complied with any requirement for safe handling or even effective use of the firearm. To shoot through a door in this scenario, when there are other innocents in the home is foolish and reckless. As a gun owner myself of many decades without incident or accident, I would tend to think that this gun-owner should not be allowed to own a gun if he is so panicky.

  ClaudsClosest - 2012-05-20 11:26

  I'm with you on this one.

  kerry.l.field - 2013-02-18 00:21

  Glenn did shoot mid level of the door handle with the door closed. He told me this in person. The incident happened so quickly but Idie's head was apparently turned towards the passage as the intruder was running up the passage towards the main bedroom where Glenn was positioned with his loaded weapon behind the door. He stated to me that he was certain that it was the intruder behind the door. If Idie had woken up and had tried to get inside her parents bedroom, how was Glenn supposed to know this. Idie had been standing behind the door with her hand on the handle turning it so that she could be safe there with her parents. This was a complete mistake.

• mothminefield - 2012-05-20 12:45

  Sorry about this. If crime was under control in our lovely country, this never would have happened.

• Tessa - 2012-05-22 10:45

  I know he panicked so i realise my thoughts are harsh, but if my house was broken into, and i have young kids (which I do) my first thought would be... where are my kids

  kerry.l.field - 2013-02-18 00:13

  This happened so quickly. Glenn knew that his kids were asleep and didn't realise that it wasn't the robber at the door.

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