On Monday, a gunman entered a Croatian Care Home in the quiet Croatian town of Daruvar and performed a mass shooting, resulting in the deaths of six people, including his mother, officials reported. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković confirmed that most of the victims were in their 80s and 90s.
According to National Police Chief Nikola Milina, five victims died on the spot, and another succumbed to injuries in the hospital. The deceased included five residents and one employee. Additionally, six others were wounded, with four sustaining serious injuries.
The suspect fled the scene but was apprehended by police at a nearby cafe, Milina said. Authorities are investigating the motive behind the attack.
Regional broadcaster N1 reported that the suspect, born in 1973, was a former policeman and a decorated war veteran from the 1991-95 Croatian War of Independence. Officials noted he had a history of causing disturbances.
The suspect’s mother had been living in the nursing home for a decade, officials added.
Zlatko Sutuga, a resident of Daruvar, told Nova TV that he knew the suspect from their wartime service. “People say that he was really aggressive, alcohol and all that,” Sutuga said.
The incident has left the town in shock and mourning. Daruvar, a spa town in the municipality of Slavonia, has a population of 8,500.
Relatives of the nursing home residents gathered outside the one-story building, anxious for news about their loved ones.
“We have my mom here, she is 90,” Nina Samot told Nova TV. “This is horrific what has happened, this is such a small town. Especially when you have someone inside. … We are waiting, we are all in shock. The whole town is in shock.”
Mayor Damir Lnenicek told N1 TV that the facility, which housed about 20 people, was known for its excellent care.
“What is the cause, the trigger, it is difficult to say,” he stated. “That will be determined by the investigation.”
Croatian President Zoran Milanovic expressed his shock over the “savage, unprecedented crime.” He called on institutions to intensify efforts to prevent violence, including stricter gun control measures.
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Police officials revealed that the suspect used an unregistered firearm. Many weapons remain in private homes in Croatia following the violent breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. While private gun ownership is legal, it requires a mental health check.
