Investigators on the fatal attack in Offenburg
According to public prosecutor Iris Janke, the suspected gunman in Offenburg fired shots at the back of his victim's head. The fatal attack on a fellow pupil showed that there was considerable potential for aggression. "Both against others and against himself", said Janke.
The 15-year-old had deliberately entered the classroom on Thursday and shot in the presence of his classmates. The parents are also under investigation, including for involuntary manslaughter. The 15-year-old victim was hit by two shots, the investigators had already reported.
The 15-year-old has not yet made a statement
The investigations against the parents also included allegations of criminal offenses under the Weapons Act, said public prosecutor Martin Seifert. Both parents were not in possession of a gun owner's license, he added. The semi-automatic self-loading weapon, a Beretta, came from the home environment. It is unclear exactly where the weapon came from and how long it had been in the family's possession. It is also being investigated whether the 15-year-old had any accomplices.
Until the incident, the German suspect had been inconspicuous, said Janke. The teenager had never been conspicuous for aggressive offenses. So far, the 15-year-old has not commented on the allegations. According to the investigators, 50 unfired cartridges were found in the school.
Janke also made it clear that the case was a juvenile criminal law case. These are subject to strict rules. For example, there are guidelines for the investigators' information policy. If the young person makes a statement, nothing will be disclosed.
In addition, even a 15-year-old must be examined to see whether he had sufficient maturity to be able to understand his alleged crime. This is especially true for such a serious accusation, said Janke. According to the public prosecutor's office, an expert is now to clarify this. This expert is also to investigate whether the suspect was in a "psychopathological state" when the crime was committed. In Germany, young people are of criminal age from the age of 14.
"There will be scars"
The teenager is in custody on suspicion of manslaughter. The accusation has not changed so far, Janke explained. If the suspicion is confirmed, he faces a maximum prison sentence of ten years under juvenile criminal law.
According to the authorities, it is also planned for the next few days to have the pupils picked up by their class teachers outside the school and accompanied to their classrooms. School psychologists are on site. There will be more and more lessons, said Werner Nagel from the Freiburg Regional Council. However, the school community is still mourning the loss of a fellow pupil. Baden-Württemberg's Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU) is to inform the state parliament's interior committee about the investigation on Wednesday.
The head of the Offenburg police headquarters, Jürgen Rieger, said it was not an easy moment for him and his colleagues. "Because the sympathy for this crime naturally lies with the young people, the family and the pupils of the school affected." It was an incisive experience. "The scars will remain."
The tragic incident at Offenburg's schools has sparked concerns about potential safety measures. Some parents are advocating for stricter gun control, given the revelation that the weapon used in the crime was not legally obtained.
Troubling reports suggest that the weapon used in the attack was not the only dangerous element present in the school environment. It has been revealed that the 15-year-old suspect had access to 50 unfired cartridges, raising questions about the safety measures in place within the school.
Source: www.dpa.com
