An Eleven-year-old boy of Makeni East has died after sustaining a gunshot wound.
Zambia Police Service Deputy Public Relations Officer, Danny Mwale has confirmed the shooting of the boy he identified as John Sakala of Makeni east.
Mr. Mwale has told Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Lusaka today in a press statement that Sakala was shot using a shotgun by his friend aged Eight years also of the same area.
He said that the incident happened today March 27, 2023 around 10:00 hours.
Mr. Mwale said that the victim was pronounced dead upon arrival at the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH) where he was rushed immediately after the incident.
“Facts in brief are that on March 27, 2023 at around 10:00 hours, the eight year-old boy invited Sakala and other two friends to his grandfather’s house where he stayed with him. Whilst at the house, he started showing his friends the firearm which belonged to his grandfather, it was at that point that the boy put his finger and pulled the trigger which eventually shot at Sakala, Mwale explained.
Mr. Mwale added that the bullet penetrated from the left ribs through to the right where it exited.
“The firearm in question is a Short Gun and had two rounds of Ammunition at the time,” said Mr. Mwale.
Mr. Mwale said that Police suspect that the Firearm was already loaded with ammunition by the owner identified as Masson Nyirenda aged 72 of Makeni East.
He added that the body of the deceased has been taken to UTH mortuary awaiting Postmortem while Mr. Nyirenda has been charged and arrested with the offence of failing to secure a firearm.
According to Mwale, the boy who shot at his friend has been taken to Social Warfare for safe custody.