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A Croatian war veteran and former police officer killed six people, including his mother, at a nursing home in Daruvar, Croatia.

What happened: According to authorities, the gunman initially fled the scene but was later apprehended at a nearby cafe. Most of the victims were in their 90s. The shooter’s mother had been living in the facility for at least the last 10 years.

Word on the street: Locals who reportedly knew the shooter described him as extremely aggressive and an alcoholic. He allegedly used an unregistered gun, a common issue in Croatia due to leftover weapons from the Yugoslav wars. Police have not disclosed the identity of the shooter, but local reports suggest he was Krešimir Pahoki, a former police officer involved in the 1991-1995 Croatian War.

Other injuries: Police reported that six other people were wounded, with four reportedly in critical condition.

Croatia’s President Condemns attack: In a statement, Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said he was in complete “shock.” He added, “It is a frightening warning and a last call to all competent institutions to do more to prevent violence in society, including even more rigorous control of gun ownership.”

Very rare: In 2022, Croatia experienced 31 homicides. This figure includes all methods of homicide, not exclusively those committed with firearms. The homicide rate for Croatia was 0.8 cases per 100,000 population in the same year​.