Backgrounds: Shots fired in the classroom in Offenburg
The investigation into the shooting at a school in Offenburg continues. A 15-year-old suspected of the crime, who according to the authorities is German, is in custody on suspicion of manslaughter. Baden-Württemberg's Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU) wants to inform the members of the Interior Committee about the status of the investigation next Wednesday. What we know so far:
Crime scene and time
The attack is said to have taken place in the suspect's 9th grade class. The large-scale police operation took place on Thursday at around 12.00 noon. The 15-year-old pupil is said to have entered his classroom and suddenly shot his classmate in the head with a handgun. The 15-year-old victim was hit by a total of two shots. A teacher then encountered the suspected perpetrator in the corridor outside the classroom, the investigators said. The suspect hit her on the head. The woman was slightly injured.
A father of an uninvolved schoolchild stopped the suspected gunman after the crime. According to the police, he spoke loudly to the teenager and persuaded him to put down the firearm. "The father then detained the suspected perpetrator until the police arrived on the scene." The arrested man's home was searched. Further evidence was seized.
Where did the firearm come from?
According to dpa information, the firearm used by the shooter was an old Beretta 765. It is not yet known whether the weapon was in the lawful possession of a family member or whether there was a violation of the War Weapons Control Act. The newspaper "Bild" reported that it was an heirloom of the grandfather.
The suspect is said to have had a large amount of ammunition with him. In addition to the firearm, he was also carrying a Molotov cocktail. During the search of the school building, police officers found a bottle of suspected flammable liquid in the stairwell and seized it. The extent to which this bottle is connected to the crime has yet to be determined.
Why did the 15-year-old shoot his classmate?
According to the police, jealousy is a possibility. More information about the background and the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim has not yet been released.
The incident has raised concerns about safety in schools, prompting discussions about strengthening security measures. Despite the tragic event, some educators are advocating for increased focus on emotional support and mental health resources in schools, to help prevent such incidents.
The local authorities are considering implementing stricter gun regulations, given that the weapon used in the crime was an old Beretta 765, possibly an heirloom from the suspect's grandfather and not legally owned.
Source: www.dpa.com
