Boy of 13 found with firearm

A HANOVER Park minor will appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court today after he was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

This after the City’s metro police were alerted on Monday night following a ShotSpotter notification.

The ShotSpotter system is a gunfire detection system that uses auditory sensors to triangulate the sound of gunfire.

The location is communicated to a reaction centre where officers are alerted to the exact location and respond.

Spokesperson Zelda Martin said the boy was hiding between bins in a yard.

“The metro police arrested a teenager in Hanover Park for possession of an illegal firearm.

“Officers responded to a ShotSpotter just before 8pm and found the 13-year-old hiding between two wheelie bins,” Martin said.

Metro police conducted a search and found a pistol and two magazines on him.

“Officers established that the boy lives with his grandmother and accompanied both to the police station in an unmarked vehicle, where the SAPS advised that he would be detained overnight for a probation officer to be assigned to the case,” Martin said.

Police spokesperson Andre Traut said the suspect would appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court today.

Hanover Park CPF chairperson Ebrahim Abrahams said: “Gangsters are recruiting youth from the age of nine because they know there will be no jail time for a minor.”