Serbian authorities have reported that 13 year old student carried out a shooting at the Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School in Belgrade, leaving eight students and a school guard dead. Six other students and a teacher were also left wounded.
Authorities say that the suspect, identified as Kosta Kecmanovic, had been planning the attack for over a month and had a list of targets. Kecmanovic reportedly carried out the attack with two handguns, one of which was a Zastava CZ99, that he took from his father, according to local media. The suspect surrendered to responding officers without incident.
A student went on a shooting rampage at a school in Belgrade, Serbia, killing eight children and a security guard. pic.twitter.com/5h9wQNyJkq
— Daily Turkic (@DailyTurkic) May 3, 2023
Due to his age, the suspect cannot be criminally charged and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced that he was turned over to a psychiatric care facility.
While an exact motive remains unknown, Education Minister Branko Ruži? was quick to blame video games, stating that “The cancerous, pernicious influence of Internet video games and so-called Western values ??is evident, and it is clear to all of us that a major turnaround is needed.”