Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
A Harare man has been remanded in custody for allegedly running amok, assaulting his neighbours before firing 11 shots at police officers who attended the scene.
He is expected to apply for bail tomorrow. Ross Terrence Leaper (37) is facing assault, malicious damage to property and failure to secure a firearm.
It is the State’s case that on August 20, 2025 Leaper who was drunk went to his neighbour Ashleigh Smith’s place of residence which is located in the same complex where he resides.
The court heard that he started shouting demanding to enter into Ashleigh Smith’s house, but he was denied access.
During that period, Ashleigh Smith’s daughter called his father, who is the complainant, advising him of the accused’s presence.
It is alleged that the complainant rushed to the scene and found Leaper, who was shirtless, holding a brick demanding to gain entry into the house.
The complainant and his friend Brandon Wood tried to stop Leaper from getting into the house, but he forced his way in and confronted the complainant.
He then assaulted the complainant once on the right hand and on the left eye using the brick. The complainant and Brandon Wood managed to subdue Leaper and sought assistance from J and P Security Reaction Team.
After a moment, the court heard that Leaper managed to escape and went back to his house.
J and P Security Reaction Team brought two police officers from ZRP Borrowdale and tracked Leaper to his house.
Leaper was found in his house trying to remove the handcuffs using a grinder.
Upon seeing the police officers and the reaction team, he became violent and went into his bedroom where he took a firearm and charged towards the police officers and the reaction team.
Fearing for their lives, the police officers and the reaction team ran away, leaving behind a Mahindra motor vehicle registration number AFR 4672 belonging to J and P Security Company.
It is alleged that Leaper then fired five shots at the front bonnet, three shots at the front windscreen, one shot at the driver’s window and two at the back screen, thereby damaging the vehicle. The total value of the damaged property is still to be ascertained.
