Windhoek man kills wife and shoots daughter before turning gun on himself, say shocked neighbours

Neighbours say the man who killed his wife before taking his own life had no history of violence

The neighbours of a man who recently allegedly killed his wife and shot his daughter before turning the gun on himself say the couple had no history of violence.

David Alweendo (53) allegedly shot his wife, Elizabeth Alweendo (43), in Windhoek’s Greenwell Matongo area over the weekend.

Neighbour Elizabeth Mparo (62), who has known the couple for over 10 years, says she is still haunted by the sight of flashing lights and sirens in the middle of the night when she learned her friend had allegedly been shot dead by her husband.

The tragedy, which unfolded at around 01h30 on Sunday, has been confirmed by national police spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi.

“We were just laughing on Friday with Elizabeth at my house. We talked like we always do. There was nothing strange,” Mparo told The Namibian on Monday.

“I have known tate David as a very quiet and peaceful husband for all the years that I have known them.

They were a very loving couple. I have never even heard them fight or shout at each other,” she said.

Mparo said she was asleep when she noticed the flicker of blue and red lights through her bedroom window.

“I saw the police and an ambulance outside. I went out and asked a lady what happened, and she told me: ‘Your neighbour was shot by her husband and the husband shot their child and later himself,” she said.

Mparo said she ran to alert her son and stood outside for hours as emergency workers moved in and out of the house.
She said she asked the police if she could go inside, but was told investigations were ongoing.

“We waited there until after 04h00. I just couldn’t believe what was happening. Elizabeth and David were good people. I’ve known them for over 10 years,” she said.

According to the police, the couple’s daughter and son (6) were in their room when their mother called out.

“When the daughter came to the doorway of her parents’ bedroom, she saw her father holding a gun. He allegedly shoved her aside as her mother tried to wrestle the firearm from his hands.

“In the chaos, the girl ran to the kitchen, but was struck in the thigh by a bullet.
She managed to crawl to her room and reach her phone, calling her aunt for help. Moments later, more gunshots rang out,” Shikwambi said.

The police added when the daughter returned, her mother was lying in a pool of blood in the sitting room, and her father was on the bed, also bleeding.

Mparo, who described Elizabeth as “like a sister”, said the couple never showed signs of abuse or conflict.

‘TOTALLY UNEXPECTED’

“Tate David was a quiet man, hardworking. Elizabeth stayed at home and made clothes.

They were always together, never fighting, never shouting. Even the children were so respectful. You would never expect something like this,” she said.

The couple’s youngest son was reportedly not injured.

Samora Machel constituency councillor Nestor Kalola says people often carry their burdens alone.

“They don’t want to share their difficulties with others so they can be advised not to take such drastic decisions,” he says.

He is pleading with the public to help the children in any way they can.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.