A 29-year-old police officer from the Ndola crack squad has gruesomely shot his 23-year-old wife dead and later shot himself dead after the two went on separation following a marital dispute.

Edgar Kamasumba before shooting himself in the chin at Pamodzi police post also shot his wife’s 20-year-old sister Silver Kasakula in the foot.

Copperbelt Province Commanding officer Sharon Zulu who confirmed the incident said police have recorded a murder and attempted murder which happened yesterday between 16:36 hours and 17:10 in Ndola’s Kawama township.

She said that constable Kamasumba, now deceased shot his wife Deborah Kasakula dead and she sustained a broken left arm and suffered gun shot wounds on both cheeks.

Ms Zulu said the suspect then shot his wife’s sister in the foot and then later ran away from the crime scene to Pamodzi Police Post where he shot himself through the chin and the bullet exited through the back of his head.

“Brief facts are that, the suspect, now dead is alleged to have had marital problems some three weeks ago with the wife whom they have been married for about two years.

The marital problems resulted into the couple going on separation. Then yesterday at 16:36hours the officer dressed as usual in his uniform ,withdrew an AK47 rifle serial No.78363, with a number of ammunitions .Instead of the going for duties, he decided to go at the wife’s parents home in Kawama township, where he found his wife and shot her twice in right cheek, and the bullet exited through the left cheek, and one on the left arm. He further went on rampant, shot and wounded the young sister to the deceased on the left foot,” she said.

She said after that the suspect ran to Pamodzi Police Post where he shot himself dead outside the police post.

“The two bodies are lying in Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH) mortuary awaiting postmortem, while the injured victim is admitted to the same hospital. The AK47 rifle with three rounds of ammunition is kept in safe custody and a docket to that effect was opened and investigations instituted,” she said.