A one-year-old baby was allegedly shot by a stray bullet after mourners fired gunshots during a funeral service at a cemetery in Pienaar, outside Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, Police said on Sunday.
The child was wounded, while a funeral activity was being held at the cemetery”, on Saturday around 12:45, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, the police spokesperson said.
As confirmed by the police, the baby suffered bullet wound on her lower body. It is alleged that the person who pulled the trigger was commemorating the deceased but ended almost ending the child’s life.
Mdhluli said the family of the injured girl lives next to a cemetery in Thekwane North. He said when the incident happened the child was playing outside the house.
He said: “Gunshot sounds were reportedly heard coming from the nearby graveyard where there was a burial and moments later the child was heard screaming. When her mother rushed outside to find out what was happening to her daughter, she noticed that the baby was bleeding on her lower body.”
“The baby was taken to a nearby clinic by a private vehicle and the medical staff conformed that she had a gunshot wound on her leg, however, the child had to be swiftly transferred to hospital.”
Law enforcement officials say they need eyewitnesses to come forward with information, otherwise their case will be very difficult to solve. “Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or report via the MYSAPS app. It is worth noting that Crime Stop has helped to expose criminals anonymously since 1992- let us know how did what to whom, when, where, why, and how.”
