Ex-boyfriend kills woman in Free State; suspect shot dead by police

A woman has been killed in a domestic attack in the Free State and the suspected perpetrator was fatally wounded by police during a subsequent shootout, provincial police said.

What happened

The incident occurred in Tweeling on Tuesday when a man killed a 36-year-old woman, the provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, said. According to preliminary information, the man had been waiting for his former girlfriend.

Sequence of events

Mbambo said the victim “had knocked off duty as usual at approximately 5.45pm at her workplace in Reitz and proceeded towards a hiking spot in the direction of Tweeling.” She reportedly boarded a white motor vehicle, unaware that her former boyfriend was already inside and had allegedly planned an attack.

When the vehicle reached 10th Street in Tweeling, the woman alighted. “Shortly thereafter, the suspect also got out of the vehicle, allegedly grabbed her and shot her in the head at close range. The suspect then fled the scene in the direction of Reitz,” Mbambo said.

Police response and shootout

Members of the public alerted police and provided information about the man’s movements. Two police vehicles one from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) and another from Tweeling Visible Policing responded and pursued the suspect.

Police said the man was spotted hitchhiking. Mbambo described the encounter: “Members of the FCS Unit, travelling in a Mahindra vehicle and dressed in civilian clothing, stopped alongside him. The suspect approached the vehicle, apparently believing that the occupants were offering him a lift. As he engaged with the members, the suspect noticed a second police vehicle, occupied by members dressed in police uniform, stopping behind the Mahindra.”

Mbambo said the suspect drew his firearm and opened fire on the uniformed members while still unaware that the occupants of the Mahindra were also police officers. “The members in the Mahindra immediately responded to the attack, and the suspect was fatally wounded during the ensuing exchange of gunfire,” she said.

Investigations and official response

A murder case has been opened in connection with the woman’s shooting. An inquest docket was registered regarding the death of the 40-year-old gunman, and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) will investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

Free State Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thabang Lesia condemned the murder and expressed concern over the escalation of domestic violence-related incidents. He commended members of the public who alerted police and provided information that helped officers locate the gunman.

“The swift response by the members of the FCS Unit and Tweeling Visible Policing demonstrates the importance of effective collaboration between the community and the police in responding to incidents of violence,” Lesia said.

“We urge members of the community, particularly victims of domestic violence, not to remain silent when they are subjected to threats, intimidation or abuse. Early reporting can enable the police and other relevant support structures to intervene before such situations escalate into loss of life,” he added.

This report is based on a statement provided by the Free State provincial police spokesperson and comments from the Free State Police Commissioner.