In December 2022, three violent incidents occurred in Alkmaar within less than 24 hours, where a man randomly attacked unsuspecting people. This caused significant social unrest, as in two cases shots were fired at the victims. The Public Prosecution Service suspects a 23-year-old man from Uitgeest of committing these acts. The man had to account for himself yesterday (June 12, 2025) in court in Alkmaar. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) demanded a prison sentence of six years and TBS with compulsory treatment for attempted manslaughter, multiple assaults, and possession of a weapon.
Assault and shooting incident on the same day
On December 14, 2022, two incidents occurred. The then 49-year-old victim confronted the suspect at his apartment complex about the fact that the suspect was smoking in the entrance. When the victim turned to walk away, he heard a bang and felt pain in his back. Only when the victim later that day found blood in his urine did he seek medical attention, and it turned out that a projectile had hit his body, damaging his liver and kidney. Later that day, a woman reported that she had been assaulted by a man in the city center of Alkmaar. The victim was riding her scooter home when she saw a man standing in the middle of the road. The man was aggressive and shouted at her, calling her a cancer whore and cancer woman. She wanted to pass the man, but suddenly he stood right in front of her and slapped her hard in the face. It immediately hurt her nose and cheeks.
Day later, 76-year-old woman shot in the ear
A day later, on Thursday, December 15, 2022, a new report came in to the police that a shooting incident had occurred in Alkmaar. The police went to the scene and found a then 76-year-old woman. She stated that she was waiting by her home when the suspect said, “What are you looking at?” She replied, “I am not looking.” The suspect then shot the victim in her ear. The victims life has been permanently changed as a result. During the hearing, family members used their right to speak to make it clear to the suspect and the court that she still suffers mentally from this to this day. And that she has permanent hearing damage because she can no longer hear with one ear.
Citizen alert spread
In response to the incidents, a citizen alert was spread with the description of the shooter. Due to the similarities between the incidents and the descriptions provided, the police assumed that the acts were committed by one perpetrator. That same evening, the suspect was arrested in a hotel in Castricum. A firearm with accompanying bullets was found in his room.
Legal and convincing evidence
The Public Prosecutor believes it can be convincingly proven that the then 21-year-old suspect committed these acts. The suspect eventually confessed to the shooting incidents, but denies the assault in the center of Alkmaar. The Public Prosecutor sees sufficient evidence for this: “There are surveillance videos showing a man who bears very strong similarities to the suspect, and his phone was in the vicinity of this location around the incident.”
During this trial, the OM also asked the court to take into account a previous assault on two staff members of a youth detention center in the spring of 2022, where the suspect was staying at the time.
Social unrest was significant
The suspect has been examined since his arrest at the Pieter Baan Center. It has been shown that he has mental health issues that likely also played a role in the crimes he committed. Experts advise imposing TBS on the suspect so that he can be treated for this and reduce the risk of reoffending.
The Public Prosecutor believes that due to the seriousness of the acts, and because the suspect has also committed previous offenses, only a long prison sentence is appropriate: “But in todays case, considering the social unrest caused by the suspect is also very important, because this could have happened to anyone. The suspect randomly shot at two unsuspecting people. One spoke to him, the other may have looked at him. That these individuals survived the incidents is not due to the suspects actions, but rather by luck. The randomness of the suspect makes society want people who commit such acts to receive a high prison sentence and not return to society without treatment.” All things considered, the Public Prosecutor finds a prison sentence of six years plus TBS with compulsory treatment appropriate. The victims also demand a total compensation of 35,230 euros for material and immaterial damage.
The court will rule in two weeks.