A 12-year-old boy was shot dead by his stepbrother at about 8.30pm on Tuesday in Daveyton.
According to Constable Zunickha Essakjee, the Daveyton SAPS spokesman, the two boys found their father’s 7.65mm pistol in the car which they were busy washing.
One of the boys took the firearm, pointed it at his brother and fired a shot, which allegedly killed his brother.
Essakjee said the bullet entered the 12-year-old boy’s upper body.
The injured boy was rushed to Life The Glynnwood Hospital in Benoni where he later died.
Essakjee said the father allegedly told the police that the boy claimed two suspects were walking past the house and allegedly shot his 12-year-old brother.
“After further investigation, we found that the father left his firearm in his car and his two sons got hold of it,” said Essakjee.
The father was arrested by the Benoni SAPS on Wednesday and charged with failing to secure a firearm and defeating the ends of justice.
It is not known when the father will appear in court.
He remains in custody at the Daveyton Police Station.
