Yoshini Perumal|Published
Community leaders have urged firearm owners to secure guns and safe keys after a 16-year-old Chatsworth boy died in a suspected shooting incident at his home.
Police are investigating how he accessed the firearm.
The Bayview teenager allegedly took his father’s gun from the safe on Monday morning at around 5.30am.
Claude Subramodey, spokesperson for Amawele Emergency Service, said the boy sustained a gunshot wound to his head.
He said when paramedics got to the scene, the boy was found deceased in his bedroom.
Rocky Naidoo, a spokesperson for the Bayview Community Policing Forum, said police were investigating how the boy got a hold of the gun.
He said that suicide was prevalent in society, and urged parents with children to ensure that the guns were kept in safes, and that keys kept on them, or are well hidden from their children.
“Children, especially those in high school, are faced with different challenges and are navigating through them with the guidance from parents, teachers, and peers.
“While there is support, teenagers often are ‘in their own buzz’ and spotting the signs of depression or a child contemplating suicide may be difficult.
“Therefore, it is vital that parents who own guns are extra careful with ensuring that their children cannot access the weapon,” he added.
Naidoo said firearm owners must know the regulations of how a firearm should be stored.
“Firearm owners who do not adhere to the laws could face criminal charges and risk losing their firearm licence.
“The Bayview police are investigating how the teenager got the gun. This is not the first time we heard that we have heard of such an incident.
‘We need to be a more responsible society,” Naidoo added.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza, spokesperson for KZN police, said police in Bayview have opened an inquest docket for investigation after the body of a 16-year-old male was found with a gunshot wound in his place of residence in Summerfield Road.
Magwaza said the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.