Stade: Investigations against three suspects following six deaths
The public prosecutor's office expands investigations following the fatal gunshot incident at a Lower Saxon facility.
Stade: Investigations against three suspects following six deaths
The authorities in Stade are conducting proceedings following the fatal gunshot incident at a mother-and-child residential group against three suspects. In addition to the 45-year-old man regarded as the shooter, the attention of investigators has now also turned to his partner (34) and the 65-year-old godmother of the couple's infant. This was announced by the responsible authority to BILD.
All three are accused of involvement in the act in which six people were killed on Monday. An arrest warrant issued by a judge is already in place against the main suspect. The authorities are treating the acts as multiple cases of premeditated homicide with particularly serious circumstances. The man was already known to the security authorities; furthermore, separate preliminary investigations are being conducted against him for violence against dependants.
How the two women were involved in the act remains unclear so far. Investigators are working to establish the exact sequence of events and background. A decision regarding possible charges will only be made after the ongoing investigations are completed. The defence counsel for the younger suspect refused to comment on the allegations when asked.
The alleged shooter had killed staff members at the residential group facility in Stade as well as an employee of a youth office. The motive is believed to have been a dispute over custody of the couple's three-month-old child. After the shots were fired, he fled in a vehicle driven by the older suspect. Shortly before, she had sent a lengthy letter to media organisations in which she reported on the legal dispute. She is related to a Lower Saxon SPD politician who works as the state commissioner for migration.
The main suspect is being held in investigative custody.
Source: BILD