Teenagers shot in Brackendowns

BRACKENDOWNS – A teenager has been placed in an induced coma after his operation on Tuesday night and doctors will keep him in this coma for about three days. A second in the group of three who experienced the shooting, has been discharged from hospital with a flesh wound on his leg and is with his parents and the third was not injured.

The three friends arrived home at the Brackendowns house for the one friend to change. They just parked the car and the man, a former neighbour, was waiting in the garden.

According to an SAPS spokesperson, the 66-year-old man was a former neighbour and he used to complain about the boys making a noise and playing load music. However, he moved out of the neighbouring house about four months ago. Brackendowns Police reports that the man’s wife moved overseas about four months ago and that he moved out of the area.

It is also reported that the man started shooting at the boys at random, hitting one of the in the leg, then he made all three lie on the ground before he shot the one boy in the head.

The man has been arrested and charged for two counts of attempted murder. He appeared in court on November 28 and he is still in custody awaiting a bail hearing.

The RECORD will keep our readers posted.

*The parents of the children involved would like to thank the following people: Geoff Steyn – Brackendowns CPF Chairman – for his quick response in letting role players know and responding so quickly to the call for help; Cst Riaan Venter – Brackendowns SAPS – for responding so efficiently even though he was effectively off duty; Mike Callow – the EMS respondent who arrived within minutes of being called out; Sanet Williams – Trauma Counselor Brackendowns SAPS – whose support was heartfelt, both at the scene and at the hospital; all the friends and family who assisted at the scene and whose support has never wavered; the staff and Doctors at Union Hospital whose care and consideration has been flawless and finally to the Management of Brackendowns SAPS, especially Colonel Arikum, Lt-Col Hutchons and Cst Venter who have continued to support the families during this difficult time.