22-Year-Old Man Killed, Girlfriend Shot During Attempted Rape

KEY POINTS

The suspect approached the 22-year-old man and his 26-year-old girlfriend as the couple was walking home
The boyfriend was shot in the head during a struggle with the suspect
The woman was also injured but survived

A 22-year-old man in South Africa was killed while fighting off a lone gunman who allegedly attempted to sexually assault the victim's 26-year-old girlfriend Saturday.

The woman, whose name was not disclosed, said she and her boyfriend were walking home from a local tavern in Cornubia, KwaZulu-Natal, when the suspect accosted them, according to a statement from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA).

The suspect demanded that the woman follow him into a dense bush. She believed that he intended on raping her.

The woman said she tried to flee as her boyfriend fought off the suspect.

During a struggle between the victim and suspect, shots were fired, with the boyfriend getting struck in the head. The woman was also injured after a shot hit her in the buttock.

Medics arrived at the scene at around 4 a.m. Saturday and found the male victim lying on the side of the road unresponsive, with a gunshot wound to the head. He was declared dead at the scene.

His girlfriend was treated for the wound on her left buttock before being taken to a medical facility, according to a report from the Citizen.

The suspect had fled into a dense bush following the shooting. It is unclear if the suspect had been arrested as of writing or if police have launched a search for him.

In related news, a 59-year-old man is wanted in Santa Rosa County, Florida, on charges related to the sexual assault of a child.

Alfred Moore Jr. is facing a charge of sexual assault by a person 18 years of age or older on a victim under 12 years of age, ABC 3 reported.

Moore was described as a 5-foot-10 Caucasian male weighing around 150 pounds. He has gray hair and blue eyes.

No other details were provided regarding his case, including where he was last seen.

Authorities are now calling on the public for help in collaring the 59-year-old man. Anyone who may have information on Moore is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 850-983-1189. A maximum reward of $3,000 could be given for information that could lead to the suspect’s arrest.