Friday 13th was a cursed day for a 72-year-old woman who was shot in the head, allegedly by her own son.
The 40-year-old man is expected to appear in court today on charges of attempted murder after he allegedly shot his own ma.
The man, who cannot be named until he has made his formal appearance at the Athlone Magistrates’ Court, is believed to have shot the pensioner inside their Oasis Street, Athlone home at 2.45pm on Friday.
The vrou is currently in a critical condition at Groote Schuur Hospital.
The son was arrested shortly after the shooting and his firearm confiscated at the scene.
Police spokesperson Constable Noloyiso Rwexana confirms the man is expected in court today: “A 72-year-old woman was shot and wounded.
“The victim was taken to hospital for medical treatment.
“A 40-year-old male suspect was arrested and his firearm was confiscated .
“The suspect will appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court Monday, facing a charge of attempted murder.
When our team visited the house, no one was present.
A shop owner who knows the mother and son says: “We just saw the ambulance and the police and didn’t hear the gunshots.
“All we know is that he (son) had a breakdown.
“He was very quiet; we didn’t expect this from him.
“The mother and son lived alone together and the son at one stage lived overseas,” he tells Daily Voice.
Oasis Street was also the scene of another controversial shooting earlier this year.
Five months ago, William Petersen, 79, allegedly shot his neighbour, Anees Dennis, 39, at his home in Oasis Street, Hazendal, claiming the victim was an intruder.
Anees, who lived next door, had been cutting down a tree on the boundary of the two homes.
Williams’ 25 firearms as well as 700 rounds of ammunition were discovered on the property.
The bloody scene of the shooting is a stone’s throw from another shocking shooting of an elderly person.
Friday marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Michael Volkwyn, 61.
Volkwyn, a retired mechanical engineer, is believed to have shot himself in the head after a 12-hour stand-off with police at his home in Albermarle Street, Hazendal.
Albermarle Street is one street away from Oasis Street where the 72-year-old and Anees were shot.
Volkwyn had locked himself inside his home with 13 dogs that police wanted to remove from the premises following complaints.
One of the dogs had allegedly attacked Volkwyn’s tenant who had laid a complaint with police.
Volkwyn wounded Constable Lee-Roy Scott, of the Tactical Response Team, in the cheek when they tried to enter his property before he allegedly took his own life.