Offenburg: 36-year-old shot by ex-partner, police cited conversations
A 36-year-old was shot in Offenburg by her ex-partner. The woman had reported him to police three times; police say they provided behavioural guidance.
Fatal shooting after repeated reports
A 33-year-old shot a 36-year-old in a residential area of Offenburg on Monday and then took his own life, according to swr.de. The two knew each other from a refugee accommodation centre in Schutterwald. Police are investigating the exact circumstances; an autopsy is underway.
The man is said to have possessed weapons illegally. A year ago, an unknown woman alerted police to the fact that the suspect may have violated weapons legislation. In March 2026, another report was filed for stalking — by a different woman.
The deceased woman had filed a report against her ex three times since the beginning of 2025. The allegations included harassment, insult, threats and defamation. In several cases, the 33-year-old filed counter-reports. According to Offenburg police, officers conducted risk-focused conversations with him in all cases and presented the incidents to the public prosecutor's office.
Several intensive conversations were held with the later victim. The police gave her behavioural guidance and suggested she apply for a restraining order under the Protection Against Violence Act. To the police's knowledge, the woman did not file this application. Officers had clearly told her to contact police immediately should the 33-year-old approach her.
The victim's partner accuses the police of not protecting the woman sufficiently. Offenburg District Court said that no protection order proceedings had been pending there.
Whether this constitutes a so-called femicide — a killing based on the victim's gender — is being debated. In Germany, femicide is not a separate criminal offence; Offenburg police do not officially use the term. In politics, there is debate about incorporating femicides into criminal law to recognise the particular severity of such acts.
According to police, the suspect had been involved in physical altercations at the accommodation centre. After the incident, a place of silent remembrance was created in the residential area. Staff from the city's community work and youth services are on site and mediate contacts with support persons.
According to Offenburg city authorities, the deceased woman was actively engaged in the community — working with various groups and organisations. She leaves behind a son. A privately initiated fundraising campaign for the family has collected approximately 15,000 euros so far. A memorial event is taking place in Freiburg on Wednesday evening, called for by the initiative "Network Against Femicides Freiburg".
Since Wednesday, the use of "electronic monitoring of whereabouts" to protect against intimate partner violence has been possible in Baden-Württemberg — perpetrators can be monitored via an ankle tag.
Source: Google News DE — Crime (de)