A South African family is demanding answers after a stray bullet kills their 6-year-old boy.
A quiet afternoon of children playing soccer turned to tragedy when six-year-old Mmachoene Mphaka was fatally struck by a stray bullet in Juju Valley, leaving his family devastated and authorities searching for answers.
Stray Bullet Kills 6-Year-Old Boy
The grieving family believes the fatal shot may have come from hunters operating in nearby fields, with disturbing indications that the firearm might have been equipped with a noise suppressor.
“My sister heard only a soft sound – nothing resembling a normal gunshot,” explained Amos Buthane, the family’s spokesperson and uncle to the deceased child.
Local law enforcement confirmed they’re treating the incident as murder.
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“Our preliminary investigation confirms the child was hit by a stray projectile, but we have no reports of anyone hearing gunfire,” stated Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, police spokesperson.
Tragic Scene: From Playtime to Tragedy
Stray bullet kills 6-year-old boy-Image Source@timesliveAccording to witness accounts, the young boy had been enthusiastically playing soccer with friends near his Seshego home when he suddenly collapsed. His mother, initially thinking he had fallen, rushed to help, only to discover her son bleeding profusely from a head wound.
Medical scans at the local hospital revealed the horrifying truth – a bullet lodged above the child’s left ear. Despite emergency efforts to transfer him to Polokwane for specialised care, Mmachoene succumbed to his injuries before the journey could begin.
Ballistics Expert Weighs In
Firearms specialist Christo de Klerk acknowledged that while suppressors can reduce gunshot noise, they don’t completely eliminate the sound as often depicted in films.
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“Even with a silencer, high-velocity rounds create a distinctive sonic crack that nearby individuals would typically hear,” De Klerk explained.
The expert emphasised that determining the specific firearm used would require analysis of the projectile’s calibre and trajectory – information police say remains confidential during the ongoing investigation.