A 21-year-old man has been arrested after a shooting in which a seven-year-old Atlantis boy was killed and his mother wounded.
|||Atlantis - Police have arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with a shooting in which a seven-year-old Atlantis boy was killed and his mother wounded. Two other men were also wounded.
Ruhan Botha was enjoying a family braai with his 33-year-old mother, Liezel, on Friday and the rest of his family when shots rang out. Ruhan was fatally wounded and his mother wounded in the neck.
Atlantis councillor Barbara Rass visited the family on Sunday and said the mother was very shocked and was not ready to talk to the media.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet. It was the hardest when she dished for him and realised that her little boy was not there.”
Rass said other residents had been visiting the family and had offered their condolences.
“She is in bed now. She was discharged on Saturday and her face is still swollen.”
Rass added that the shooting affected Atlantis residents, especially since a woman and her child were affected.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut said they could not speculate that the shooting was gang-related, but said police arrested the 21-year-old in Atlantis on Saturday night.
“Criminals opened fire, supposedly at another group of criminals and both were caught in the crossfire. The boy succumbed due to a gunshot wound, while his 33-year-old mother survived with a wound to the neck. Two other male adults, aged 18 and 20, were also wounded.”
Traut said the motive for the shooting was unknown.
“We are searching for two more suspects and will stop at nothing until we are satisfied that we have all those responsible for the death of Ruhan.
“Any person who can assist us with our investigation, or who can shed light on the whereabouts of the suspects, is kindly requested to contact Crime Stop on 0860010111, and remain anonymous.”
yolisa.tswanya@inl.co.za
Cape Argus