Naked man fires shots outside Western Cape High Court
Witnesses in Cape Town were left in shock as a naked man fired shots outside the the Western Cape High Court.
Image: Supplied
Like scenes from an action-packed movie, a naked man believed to be homeless was filmed outside the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday, firing several shots into the ground with a firearm he allegedly grabbed from a police officer.
Footage of the surreal scene in Keerom Street shows the man standing naked on the pavement firing shots randomly into the ground in front of him, while police are trying to cautiously apprehend the suspect.
People can be seen running for cover or a closer look as cops attend the scene.
He can be seen looking at the gun, looking around him and then opening fire again while screams can be heard from bystanders with every shot that goes off.
People looking on can be heard saying, “hy gaan iemand skiet”(he is going to shoot someone) and “he is going to shoot himself”. Police can be heard shouting continuously at the suspect, “put down the gun”.
Another recording, taken from a balcony, shows the man’s clothes lying in the road as he is pacing up and down with the gun in his hand.
After much caution, two brave police officers can be seen running closer to the suspect, both grabbing him and tackling him to the ground.
One officer manages to get hold of the firearm and disarm the naked gunman before loading him to the back of a police van.
Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie confirmed the incident.
"Police members attached to Cape Town Central SAPS responded a complaint of a naked man on the sidewalk on Keerom Street at about 13:00 on Wednesday, September 3.
"On arrival at the they scene, they found a young naked man whom refused to cooperate and cover himself. A scuffle ensued during which the man took the firearm from one member and discharged shots, fortunately no one was hit.
"Three members overpowered the suspect and arrested him on charges related to the robbery of a firearm, discharge of a firearm in a public space and public indecency. He will appear in the Cape Town Magistrates’ court once charged."
Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament on the Select Committee on Security and Justice, Nicolas Gotsell, slammed the cops’ initial response.
In a short statement, he said: “The incident is like a bad metaphor for the state SAPS is in due to poor management.
“I have submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister about what exactly happened; how; and why.”
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