Three years of imprisonment and TBS have been demanded today for the 22-year-old Schiedammer suspected of firing shots in a crowded metro. It is a miracle that no one was hit, said the public prosecutor in the courtroom.
The metro between Hoek van Holland and Rotterdam was full of people enjoying a day at the beach on May 12, 2024. It was a beautiful sunny day, but the atmosphere in the metro changed abruptly when shots were fired. The suspect was that day with a friend, and the shooting incident arose from a heated discussion with two other men. The suspects refused to sit down as requested by the suspect. A struggle ensued in the metro, and shots were fired.
At the next station, the four got off, and the fighting continued. Again, the suspect, as shown in the CCTV footage, aimed his weapon at one of the other men he was arguing with. This time he did not shoot but struck one of them on the head with full force. The police arrived quickly and arrested the suspects. The weapon was also secured.
Weapon Malfunctioned
That it only resulted in a few shots was purely coincidental, as the investigation into the weapon revealed. The public prosecutor stated: There were probably at least two shots fired inside the metro towards the entrance door. It is highly likely that when firing one or more projectiles in the crowded metro, passengers were at risk of being hit by the fired projectiles. The risk for the passengers was great. It is, therefore, a miracle that no one in this metro was hit by a fired projectile. According to the prosecutor, the situation in the metro was traumatic for those who witnessed it, especially the two men who crossed paths with the suspect and his friend. A complete collection of senseless, unnecessary, idiotic, and shockingly intense violence. What did those people do wrong? Because they did not want to sit down. The victims had also just enjoyed a day at the beach. And it had to end like this. How can you even think of that!
Disorder
The suspect was examined by a psychologist, a psychiatrist, and an environmental researcher in the lead-up to the hearing. The researchers determined that the Schiedammer is, among other things, mildly intellectually disabled, schizophrenic, and addicted to alcohol. He also suffers from an antisocial personality disorder. In particular, the schizophrenia played a significant role during the committed act, as stated in the report. The suspect was in a concerning psychiatric state at that time, the prosecutor quoted the researchers from the PBC. He was significantly less accountable at that moment. A return to society without the right treatment is also a risk. The chance of reoffending is high.
Co-defendant
The man who was with the Schiedammer that day in the metro, a 21-year-old local, faces 18 months, of which 9 are conditional, for his role in the fight. Both men are to pay a total of over 12,000 euros in damages to the victims, as far as the Public Prosecution Service is concerned.