Photos: Soldier kills his wife and her two sisters before turning gun on himself in failed suicide attempt
A soldier last Wednesday, stormed the home of his wife's
parents armed with an AK 47 assault rifle, fired about 20 shots, killing
her and her two young siblings and injuring his one-year-old son before
shooting himself in a failed suicide attempt in New Magwegwe suburb,
Zimbabwe following an infidelity row.
The soldier, 23-year-old Carlos Chapeyama, who is based in
Gweru and his 18-month-old son Tlowi Chapeyama whom he shot once on the
leg, are battling for life at Mpilo Central Hospital.
His wife, Ashley Phiri (21) and her siblings, Nkosivumile Ncube (16) and Rita Nkomo (23) died on the spot.
Ms Phiri’s 81-year-old granny, Mrs Esther Nkomo managed to
flee from the house when Chapeyama went berserk and started shooting the
deceased while another relative, Mr Sipho Ndlovu (34) hid in the lounge
where he had been sleeping when the mayhem started at around 1am.
The suspect allegedly fired about 20 shots during a power outage caused by the rains, killing his three victims on the spot.
Chapeyama and his wife lived in Mutare but she is alleged
to have recently returned to her parents, accusing Chapeyama of
physically abusing her.
Zimbabwe National Army Public Relations Director,
Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore, said Chapeyana was yesterday under
military police guard at the hospital.
“The ZNA regrets to announce the occurrence of a family
shooting incident which happened in New Magwegwe, Bulawayo. The
circumstances of the shootout are that a member of the ZNA, Private
Chapeyama, had a long standing dispute with his wife, the now deceased
Ashley Phiri.
“On the day in question, the ZNA member had been assigned
night guard duties at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation transmitter
at Guinea Fowl, Gweru. He then finished his duty and sneaked out of the
camp with his service rifle. He then travelled to Bulawayo with the AK47
folding butt rifle concealed in a bag. Pvt Chapeyama went straight to
his in-laws’ house,” said Lt Col Makotore.
He said Chapeyama randomly opened fire on the three
deceased sisters, killing them on the spot. Lt Col Makotore said the
child who was also shot survived but sustained serious injuries.
“After the shooting, Chapenya tried to commit suicide by
turning the rifle on himself but was seriously injured. The perpetrator,
Pvt Chapeyama, is now detained under heavy Military Police guard at
Mpilo Hospital. The child is admitted at the same hospital,” he said.
Lt Col Makotore said the army will assist in the burials of the deceased.
An uncle to the victims, Mr Ntando Nkomo said the couple
had domestic problems but they never suspected that Chapeyama would
resort to murder.
“When he arrived from Mutare on Monday, he came here to see
his child and told us of several issues, mostly suspected infidelity
matters. Ashley repeatedly complained about her partner, accusing him of
infidelity. This time Carlos also suspected that his wife was also
cheating. I advised him to bring his parents so we would meet and
discuss the matter,” he said.
“At around 12AM, Ashley phoned me, saying Carlos was at
their house, banging their doors and threatening to kill her. I phoned
my sister (Ashley’s aunt Judith Nkomo) and returned to sleep thinking it
was just one of those issues, since they always had issues. An hour
later, Carlos phoned me, using Ashley’s phone and said he had killed all
of them and that I should come and collect the bodies. He immediately
switched off the phone.”
Mr Nkomo said when the soldier called him he was at his
house in Pumula suburb and he immediately phoned the police and then
rushed to the scene.
He said he found the bodies lying in pools of blood in the kitchen and was told that about 20 shots had been fired.
He said he found the bodies lying in pools of blood in the kitchen and was told that about 20 shots had been fired.
Mr Nkomo said Carlos was also in the kitchen, with the rifle next to him.
“We thank God our mother and cousin survived the shooting. I’m still trembling,” he said.
Mr Nkomo said the family was facing financial challenges and burying three people was a tall order.
Miss Judith Nkomo, an aunt, said Chapeyama had not yet paid lobola, but the couple had been together for close to five years.
“When she recently returned from Mutare, she came to me and
told me that Carlos was cheating on her and was also physically abusing
her. She had serious scars all over her body from beatings,” she said.
The victims were buried today. Mpilo Central Hospital
clinical director, Dr Solwayo Ngwenya on Sunday, said Carlos and his
daughter were out of danger.
On Friday, the suspect appeared before Bulawayo magistrate
Franklin Mkhwananzi during a bedside court session conducted at Mpilo
Central Hospital.
He was remanded in custody to February 16 and advised to apply to the High Court for bail.
The soldier, who was initially confined to the intensive care unit, has since been transferred to the male ward and he is under police and military guard.
The soldier, who was initially confined to the intensive care unit, has since been transferred to the male ward and he is under police and military guard.
More photos below...
Source: The Chronicle
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