Shots fired at Aarau rave: 43-year-old Swiss man under suspicion, one dead
Shots were fired at the Aarau rave in the early hours of Sunday – a 22-year-old woman died and five were injured. A 43-year-old Swiss man turned himself in to police.
Alleged perpetrator surrenders – family of deceased demands thorough investigation
In the early hours of Sunday, shortly after 2.30 am, multiple shots were fired at the Aarau racecourse during a rave there. According to Blick, two weapons were used: a pistol or submachine gun and an assault rifle. Maria S., a 22-year-old Italian woman residing in Oftringen AG, was killed. Five other people suffered serious injuries; all victims were residents of Switzerland. The Aargau cantonal police described them as random victims.
In the early hours of Monday, shortly after 1 am, police arrested a 43-year-old Swiss man from the Canton of Jura on strong suspicion of committing the crime. The man turned himself in to authorities in Delémont. Police believe it was carried out by a single perpetrator and have since classified the act as a shooting rampage. The charges under consideration include wilful homicide, murder – each partially attempted – multiple endangerment of life, and violations of firearms legislation.
Indications of suspect's history
Italian newspapers "La Repubblica" and "Corriere della Sera" independently reported that the arrested man was a former military member who had been hospitalised several times for psychological problems. He is also said to have turned himself in and confessed to the act. These details have not been officially confirmed; the papers cite sources from investigative circles.
Family demands further investigation
The father of Maria S. made a statement through his lawyer Bruno Gallo following the press conference held by Aarau authorities. In a written statement it states: "Maria was murdered at just 22 years of age, and the circumstances of the crime have not yet been fully clarified." The information known so far did not allow the reconstruction of events to be regarded as complete.
"The hypothesis of an act attributable to an alleged shooting rampage can neither answer all questions nor replace thorough investigation," the statement continues. The family demands that the investigation be continued with the greatest care, examining all available evidence. Hasty conclusions should be avoided as long as not all aspects are clarified. "Maria, as a daughter of Italy, must not be left alone on her final journey," the statement concludes.
DJs report on the night of the incident
DJs Tekibo and Pencil, who performed that night, published a joint statement on Instagram. "The past few days are difficult to put into words. We feel compelled to tell what we experienced – especially since so much false information is being spread," they wrote.
The night had been exuberant until the shots rang out. "We felt nothing but love," the musicians stated. When the shots were fired, people ran in different directions and sought shelter. Shortly afterwards, Tekibo and Pencil received a call: "One of our friends, who was very close to M., called us and told us that M. had been shot. That call knocked us off our feet."
Criticism of media and false reports
The two artists strongly criticised media coverage. "We were there. The media were not," they wrote and appealed: "Please do not turn rumours into facts. There are still no final official answers from the authorities." They also complained that individuals were giving false interviews and that the tragedy had become a "competition over who is portrayed as a hero".
The DJs also criticised the fact that fundraising campaigns had been started without the family's consent. Attempts to make contact had been ignored. In the meantime, there is an official GoFundMe account for Maria S.'s family, set up with the parents' approval.
"We are not doing well. We do not need headlines. We do not need speculation. We need privacy," wrote Tekibo and Pencil. Despite everything, they do not want to give up music: "Music is our freedom. Music is our voice. Music is our connection. We will continue to stand together – for M., for our community, for our freedom."
Source: Blick