Welkom - A former policeman shot himself and later died after shooting his wife, another officer and two bystanders in Odendaalsrus, Welkom police said on Monday.
Jan Letshele, 62, allegedly assaulted his wife at their home in Kutloanong on Friday, Captain Stephen Thakeng said.
A neighbour then called the police.
Upon their arrival, Letshele told the two officers to back off as he had a gun, so they called for assistance.
Letshele then held his wife hostage, Thakeng said.
“After a while one of his neighbours arrived at his house to try and talk to him. While they were talking, as he unlocked the door, the wife managed to run (out of) the house.
“But he shot her three times in her stomach and in her knee.”
More police had arrived at the house by then.
An officer and a male and a female bystander were each shot in the leg by Letshele.
He set his three cars alight - a Tata Indica, a Mercedes Benz and a Toyota bakkie. As a result of the fire, the kitchen caught fire and burnt down.
Letshele then went to the back of his yard and shot himself in the head.
He and the three others were taken to various hospitals in the area.
Letshele died on Saturday.
An inquest was opened, Thakeng said. - Sapa