Security officer's gun kills family of four in Bloemfontein RDP house

A security officer’s company firearm is at the centre of a triple murder and inquest in Bloemfontein after four members of one family were found shot in the head inside an RDP house in Grassland 2.

Bloemspruit police received a distress call about a shooting at about 08:10. Neighbours had heard gunshots from the house and called the police, according to the South African Police Service statement issued by the office of the Free State provincial commissioner.

On arrival, officers found a 35-year-old male lying motionless on the floor. The body of a 33-year-old female was found in the lounge, and the motionless body of a 15-year-old daughter was found in a bed. The couple’s 4-year-old son was rushed to a local hospital by paramedics, and police later received a report that he had also died.

The 35-year-old man was a security officer posted at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court office situated at Bloemspruit. According to the reports in the statement, he reported on duty that morning and booked out a company firearm.

The firearm was found next to him where he lay on his stomach on the floor. Local Criminal Record Centre experts arrived and processed the scene.

Police are investigating domestic violence related triple murder and an inquest. The investigation has been entrusted to Lieutenant Colonel Rankhala David Ramasoala.

Anyone with information relating to the murders and inquest can contact Lieutenant Colonel Ramasoala on 082 427 7390, submit it through the MySAPS App, call the SAPS Crime Stop number on 08600 10111, or report it at the nearest police station.

The statement was issued through Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane. The full SAPS media statement is available at https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=72237.