GEORGE NEWS - The 18-year-old man from Rosedale who allegedly broke into a house in George East, threatened a teenage girl and stole a firearm last Thursday 2 June, now also faces a charge of attempted murder.
It is alleged that the same firearm that was stolen on Thursday morning during the robbery in Steven Street in George East, was used to shoot a bystander in Lawaaikamp shortly before 11:00.
The suspect, Keagan Matthews, and four other men were arrested at a house in Sarah Street later the same day due to the quick response of the police as well as excellent detective work by members of George, Conville, Pacaltsdrop and Thembalethu police stations. Members of the police's tactical response team (TRT) also assisted.
The charges against the other four men were withdrawn earlier this week after the police could not link them to the house robbery and shooting. Matthews will again appear in the George Magistrate's Court tomorrow (Friday 10 June). He is being detained at the Mossel Bay Youth Centre.
In the house robbery last Thursday, Matthews allegedly broke into the house and was surprised by the owner's daughter (14) who was alone at home, studying for an exam. It is alleged he threatened her and forced her to open the safe from where he took the firearm. The suspect also took an Italian custom-made bicycle, jewellery, a camera, a laptop and an IPhone. Although traumatised, the 14-year-old girl is physically unharmed.
Some of the goods were reportedly sold in Rosemoor where the police recovered some of it.
According to information, Matthews rode the bicycle through Lawaaikamp and was on his way to Rosedale, when a group of men tried to rob him near the footbridge over the N2. He took out the stolen firearm and shot at the men, wounding a bystander, Xolile Ranati (42) from Lawaaikamp, who was pushing his pig in a wheelbarrow to a nearby veld.
Ranati was shot in the arm and taken to George Hospital. He is recovering at home.
Matthews then fled to Rosedale on foot, leaving the bicycle behind. Just hours later the police arrested him and four other young men at a house in Sarah Street where several items stolen from Steven Street were recovered.
This is the second shooting incident in less than 12 months in which Matthews was allegedly involved. Last year he was arrested following the shooting of a foreign shop- owner from Rosedale who was shot in the eye with a pellet gun.
The police recovered a firearm, ammunition, a laptop and jewellery stolen during the robbery.
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ARTICLE: LIZETTE DA SILVA, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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