An apparently targeted gun attack at a special needs school in Offenburg shocked many people. However, so far only little information has been made public. This could also be because both the victim and the suspect are minors.
On Thursday there was a major police operation at the Waldbachschule in Offenburg. A 15-year-old student entered the school around 11:50 a.m. with a handgun. He then went into a classroom and apparently headed specifically for a classmate of the same age. He hit him with at least one shot. The dpa learned from security circles that he was said to have aimed at the head. The victim suffered serious injuries.
Shortly before 12 p.m., the police in charge received several emergency calls, according to a statement. A father was able to prevent something worse from happening before the emergency services arrived. Apparently he happened to be at the school and met the gunman. According to his own statement on “ntv”, he shouted “gun away,” and then he was able to overpower him. Shortly afterwards the police were on site and arrested the young suspect.
So far, according to the police, a “personal motive” has been considered, without specifying this in more detail. On Friday, the police mainly answered open questions: “What drove the 15-year-old to his crime, where did the firearm come from and how did the perpetrator get the weapon are just some of the points that need to be clarified.”
The 15-year-old victim was taken from school by police and given emergency medical care by emergency services. However, he succumbed to his serious injuries in the hospital and died that afternoon.
The suspect, who was the same age, was arrested by the police and brought before an examining judge that evening. He issued an arrest warrant for suspected manslaughter. The suspect, who is a German citizen, is in custody.
It is still unclear where the teenager got the weapon from. According to information from security circles from the dpa news agency, the suspect is said to have had additional ammunition and a Molotov cocktail with him. An incendiary device was also found. The police have not yet commented further.
After the crime, local students were taken to a gymnasium where worried parents were already waiting for them. Those present will continue to be looked after by psychological teams, and school psychologists from surrounding schools will also support the children and young people. The school remained closed on Friday.
Mayor Marco Steffens (CDU) explained: “As a city, we are in contact with all authorities and institutions in order to be able to overcome this difficult situation together. The next few days and weeks will certainly not be easy.”
According to their own statements, the police are investigating at full speed and have set up the special “Mühlbach” commission. “First of all, there are many sensitive interviews with witnesses that need to be evaluated together with the accounts that are already circulating,” the police said.
A spokesman told the star that the crime scene was still being secured and traces were being evaluated.
Further sources: Offenburg Police, ntv, with information from the agencies
