South African man shot dead by police after holding family hostage and shooting wife, son

SAfrica man shot by police after standoff

JOHANNESBURG — Police say a South African man fatally shot his son and injured his wife before police broke into the house and shot him dead.

Police spokeswoman Col. Noxolo Kweza says police found the 62-year-old man and his 35-year-old son dead inside a house east of Johannesburg Friday. The man’s wife escaped the house early Friday after he shot her in the neck.

After negotiating with the man, who locked himself in the house, police used force to enter the house, Kweza said. The man shot at the police when they entered. He was injured in the ensuing shootout and later died on the scene.

A neighbor said he thought the incident was triggered by the man finding out he had brain cancer, the South African Press Association reported.