A devastating shooting at a nursing home in Daruvar, Croatia, on July 22, 2024, has left six people dead and six others injured, shocking the nation and prompting calls for stricter gun control measures. The gunman, identified as a 51-year-old former military policeman and veteran of the 1991-95 Croatian War, entered the private care facility around 10:00 local time and opened fire.Among the victims was the shooter’s 90-year-old mother, who had been a resident at the home. The other fatalities included four more residents and an employee of the facility, with most victims in their 80s and 90s. Of the six injured, four remain in critical condition.The suspect fled the scene but was quickly apprehended by police at a nearby cafĂ©. He was found in possession of an unregistered firearm. Notably, it has come to light that the gunman had a history of domestic violence and disturbing the peace, with police having intervened three times previously.Croatian officials have responded swiftly to the tragedy. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic described the attack as a ‘monstrous act of mass murder’ and called for a thorough investigation. President Zoran Milanovic condemned the ‘savage and unprecedented crime’ and urged for stricter control of weapons to prevent similar incidents in the future.This tragic event has raised serious questions about public safety and gun control in Croatia. As the community of Daruvar, a town of about 8,500 residents, grieves, authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding this devastating attack.
Key points
- A shooting at a nursing home in Daruvar, Croatia, resulted in six deaths and six injuries.
- The gunman, a former military policeman, killed his own mother among the victims.
- The suspect had a history of domestic violence and previous police interventions.
- Croatian officials are calling for stricter gun control measures in response to the tragedy.
Contradictionsđź‘ľThere is a slight discrepancy in the reported time of the incident, with one source stating it occurred around 10:00 local time, while another mentions 11:00 am.