The teenage shooter has been detained, officials say
People wait outside the elementary school while police take security measures after a 7th grade student opened fire at the school, in Belgrade, Serbia on May 03, 2023. © Milos Miskov / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
A seventh-grade student opened fire inside Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School in Serbia’s capital Belgrade on Wednesday morning, killing eight children and a security guard, the country’s Interior Ministry said.
A teacher and six students were injured in the attack.
A 14-year-old suspect has been detained. Police said the shooter used his father’s gun in his attack on the school.
The father of one of the young witnesses told Vecernje novosti newspaper that, when his son heard the shots, “he thought they were firecrackers and when he saw [the shooter] he ran to save his younger sister,” the father said.
A student told news website Danas that the attacker fired over 20 rounds and reloaded his weapon during the shooting.
Speaking to the news outlet, classmates described the suspect as “quiet and withdrawn” and said he had good grades.