DARUVAR, Croatia — A lone gunman opened fire at a nursing home in the peaceful town of Daruvar, Croatia, killing six people, including his own mother, according to officials. The victims, mostly in their 80s and 90s, were targeted in the devastating attack, leaving the community in shock and mourning.
The national police chief, Nikola Milina, reported that five individuals tragically lost their lives on the scene, with another succumbing to injuries in the hospital. Among the deceased were five residents of the nursing home, with one being an employee. Additionally, at least six others sustained injuries, four of them in serious condition.
The suspect managed to flee the scene, but authorities quickly apprehended him in a cafe nearby. Investigators are currently working to determine the motive behind this harrowing act of violence.
According to N1 regional television, the assailant, born in 1973, is said to be a former policeman who served in Croatia’s 1991-95 war and was recognized as a decorated war veteran. Officials confirmed that he had a prior history of troubling incidents, which brought him to the attention of law enforcement.
The mayor of Daruvar, Damir Lnenicek, commended the quality of the care facility, which accommodated approximately 20 individuals. While the cause and trigger of the attack remain unknown, Lnenicek emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation to uncover the truth.
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic conveyed his shock at the “savage, unprecedented crime,” calling on institutions to intensify their efforts in preventing violence and implementing stricter controls on gun ownership. Authorities disclosed that the suspect used an unregistered firearm, highlighting the issue of privately-held weapons that remain a legacy of the violent breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
In Croatia, private gun ownership is legal but subject to a mental health evaluation. As this close-knit town grapples with the aftermath of the tragedy, questions are raised about how such acts of violence can be prevented in the future.