In a somber legal outcome, a Serbian court has found the parents of a teenage boy guilty in connection with a tragic school shooting that occurred in central Belgrade on May 3, 2023. The Higher Court sentenced Vladimir Kecmanovic, the father of the shooter, to 14 years and six months in prison for committing serious acts against public safety and neglecting his parental responsibilities. Meanwhile, Miljana Kecmanovic, the boy's mother, received a three-year prison term solely for child neglect, though she was acquitted of illegal gun possession charges.
The assailant, Kosta Kecmanovic, was just 13 at the time of the shooting, and under Serbian law, he was not of age to be held criminally accountable. Following the incident, which left nine students and a school guard dead and injured six others, the boy's parents were detained and charged for not securely storing their weapons, which their son accessed to carry out the act. During the trial, which was closed to the public except for the verdict readings, the child's lawyer indicated that the verdict was predictable given the immense public pressure surrounding the case. Plans for an appeal are forthcoming.
Victims’ families expressed dissatisfaction with the legal outcome, with Ninela Radicevic, who lost her daughter in the shooting, emphasizing that the parents were not held accountable for the deaths caused by their son. During the shooting spree, Kosta had used his father's firearms indiscriminately, first firing in the school hall and then moving to a classroom.
Additionally, a shooting instructor who had previously trained the boy was also implicated and received a 15-month prison sentence for providing false testimony in the case. The aftermath of the Belgrade shooting saw not only a national outpour of grief but also a subsequent mass shooting the following day, further intensifying public dialogue on gun control and safety, culminating in street protests and government crackdowns on illegal firearms possession.
6 Comments
Donatello
it seems you can almost get away with neglecting your child's access to dangerous weapons.
Raphael
Recklessness like this shouldn't be tolerated. The parents' neglect directly led to the shooting. They should have a longer sentence!
Michelangelo
14 years for the dad and only 3 years for the mother? That just feels so unjust considering the tragedy that unfolded.
Muchacho
I hope this case serves as a wake-up call for other parents to secure their firearms properly.
Comandante
The parents need to be held accountable for the actions of their child! This verdict is a gross miscarriage of justice.
Africa
No one seems to be addressing the root cause of this tragedy. The parents are getting off too easy!