Aarau shooter: 43-year-old Swiss man from Jura arrested
Following the fatal shooting at a rave in Aarau, police have arrested a 43-year-old Swiss man. He turned himself in in Delémont and confessed to the act.
Rave shooting in Aarau: Suspect turned himself in with weapons to police
Three days after the fatal shooting at a rave in Aarau's Schachen district, the Aargau cantonal police held a press conference where they disclosed comprehensive details about the perpetrator and course of events for the first time. As reported by Blick, a 43-year-old Swiss man has been arrested and is under strong suspicion of the crime.
"With near certainty, we can tell you that the man we have arrested is the person who shot at the visitors of this rave party," explained police commander Michael Leupold. The suspect is a Swiss national with no migration background and resident in the Jura. RTS reported on Wednesday evening that the man comes from the municipality of Montsevelier, approximately 18 minutes' drive from Délémont. Neighbours describe him as very withdrawn.
Course of events: 40 shots with assault rifle, then pistol
According to overall operations manager Matthias Schildknecht, the perpetrator drove his vehicle to Schachenstrasse. There he initially walked some distance on foot before firing 40 times with an assault rifle in the direction of the party-goers. He then returned to the car park, where he fired again – this time with a pistol at a departing vehicle.
Police classify the act as "amok" and assume a single perpetrator. "As of today, there are no indications of other persons involved in the act," said Leupold. The danger to the public has been averted.
Following the incident, approximately 80 emergency calls were received. Well over 100 reports from the public followed. Within the first twelve hours alone, police conducted over 130 interviews. A decisive factor was a tip about a vehicle with Jura licence plates that may have been involved in the act.
Surrender in Delémont
"The man eventually turned himself in to the Jura cantonal police and stated that he had committed the act," Schildknecht explained. The 43-year-old drove to the police station in Delémont with his weapons and said, in essence: "I am the perpetrator from Aarau."
Three firearms were seized in the vehicle: two pistols and an assault rifle of the AK-74 type. All weapons were registered in the man's name. Leupold explained that acquisition had been approved some 20 years ago by the Jura cantonal authorities.
The suspect formerly worked as an army cook. In 2013 he left military service and returned his personal service weapon. He had not previously come to police attention.
No extremist background, possible mental disorder
Searches at the man's home revealed no indications of ideological or extremist motives, according to Leupold. Public prosecutor Christoph Rüedi pointed to indicators of a mental disorder, but emphasised: "We have no confirmed findings regarding the suspect's mental state."
The 43-year-old faces charges of intentional killing (partly attempted), murder (partly attempted), multiple endangerment of life and violations of weapons legislation.
Victim and injured
The victim is 22-year-old Maria S. "The deceased person had sustained a through-and-through wound," said Schildknecht. Vital organs in the upper body were struck.
Police spoke on Wednesday for the first time of six injured persons – previously five had been reported. A sixth person came forward only later. Two of the injured remain in hospital.
Source: Blick