Teen found dead with gunshot wound in garage

POLICE have opened an inquest docket into the death of a 15-year-old Pietermaritzburg teenager who was found with a gunshot wound to her stomach on Saturday afternoon.

The city’s police spokesman, Mthokozisi Ngobese, said yesterday that a gun had been found at the scene.

He refused to divulge who the gun belonged to.

“We do not suspect foul play,” he said.

The girl’s family were battling to cope with their grief. Her father refused to give her name, talk about his daughter, or the incident.

“This just happened. We are emotional. Please respect that,” he said.

ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak said that when paramedics arrived at the scene at 2.30pm, they were met by members of the family who escorted them to a nearby house. On arrival they found the 15-year-old lying in the garage of the home.

“Upon assessment they found that she showed no signs of life and appeared to have a gunshot wound to her stomach. Sadly, there was nothing that paramedics could do for her and she was declared dead on the scene. A firearm was found lying near the scene.”

He added that the paramedics handed the scene over to the local police.

“It is understood that her father found her in the garage and called emergency services,” he said.