Crime in Traiskirchen: Investigators Clarified the Origin of the Weapon

The 66-year-old shooter is believed to have obtained it from an acquaintance. Investigations are underway against the man for contributing to murder or attempted murder, confirmed Silke Pernsteiner from the Wiener Neustadt public prosecutor's office on Thursday, confirming a "Kurier" report.

Specifically, the investigations concern "the alleged transfer of the firearm," Pernsteiner told APA. However, the related investigations are still ongoing, so details were not provided by the spokesperson.

The shooter, who was subject to a weapons ban, used an over-and-under shotgun with shotgun slugs. According to "Kurier," the acquaintance was temporarily arrested and questioned, but he vehemently denied knowledge of the perpetrator's plans. According to the media report, the suspect is said to have bought the rifle at the urgent request of the 66-year-old and handed it over to his friend for a fee. Following the questioning, the man was released.

Prison Sentence Would Have Ended in December

The 66-year-old inmate of the Wiener Neustadt correctional facility reportedly shot at his ex-girlfriend and her new partner during an approved prison leave on Sunday morning. He then initially fled in a car but later committed suicide. The 66-year-old, who had previous convictions for similar offenses, was last sentenced to one year of unconditional imprisonment for domestic violence on February 4 at the Wiener Neustadt regional court. The 66-year-old's prison sentence would have ended this December. He is believed to have announced the bloodshed with cryptic posts on Facebook. The Ministry of Justice subsequently announced plans to tighten the assessment of high-risk offenders. In the future, social media posts will be included in the evaluation.

Bloodshed in Traiskirchen: Inmate Likely Shot Out of Jealousy

The inmate likely shot out of jealousy, as he was in a relationship with the female victim some time ago. The 66-year-old had been subject to a weapons ban since 1985.

The Greens, meanwhile, submitted two parliamentary inquiries on Thursday to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) and Justice Minister Anna Sporrer (SPÖ). The topics are the illegal possession of weapons by the 66-year-old and the prison leave. "This was not a tragic isolated case, it was a systemic failure with fatal consequences," said Agnes-Sirkka Prammer, the Green Party's security spokesperson. A tightening of gun laws was once again demanded.

Support services for people with suicidal thoughts and their relatives are offered by the suicide prevention portal of the Ministry of Health. Contact details of support facilities in Austria can be found at www.suizid-praevention.gv.at. Information for young people is available at www.bittelebe.at

(APA/Red)

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