Man shoots, wounds Alberton child for playing music too loud

01 December 2013 - 15:54 By Sapa
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A man shot and wounded his neighbour's son and two friends in Alberton for allegedly playing music too loud, according to a report on Sunday.

Retired estate agent Dave Ridgeway, 66, allegedly hid in Peter Robertson's garden in Brackendowns, said Rapport.

When Robertson, 19, arrived, he was ordered by Ridgeway to lie on the ground. Ridgeway then fired three shots, one of which hit Robertson in the head, according to the newspaper.

Robertson's friend Calvin Main was also shot in the leg, while Jonathan de Freitas managed to miss the third shot.

Ridgeway then attempted to flee but fell in the pool, where he repeatedly tried to shoot himself in the head but failed because the revolver was wet.

Robertson was taken to Union Hospital in Alberton by his friends. He remains in a serious condition in hospital.

The 66-year-old was taken into police custody.

Upon investigation, a detailed plan and suicide letter was allegedly found on his laptop.

Ridgeway was divorced and faced financial problems. This prompted him to move into a guesthouse next to the Robertsons four months ago, according to the report.

He had continuously complained to the Robertsons about the loud music that Peter played in his car and inside his house.

"I think that life got too much for him and he wanted to take his frustrations out on Peter and I," said the teenager's father.

A friend of Ridgeway reported him to the police in September after he threatened to kill himself.

She said police could have avoided the tragedy, but instead did nothing about it.

Gauteng police spokesman Colonel Noxolo Kweza said the police's information showed that he wanted to shoot himself and not harm anyone else, the newspaper reported.

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