Parents of Serbian school shooter sentenced to 17.5 years

BELGRADE

The parents of a 15-year-old boy who killed 10 people in a school shooting in Serbia in May 2023 were sentenced to a total of 17.5 years in prison on Monday.

The Belgrade High Court issued its verdict on the parents of K.K., the perpetrator of the shooting at Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School in Belgrade on May 3, 2023.

According to the court ruling, K.K.'s father, Vladimir Kecmanovic, was sentenced to 14.5 years in prison, while his mother, Miljana Kecmanovic, received a 3-year sentence.

The parents were found guilty of keeping firearms at home and encouraging their minor child to commit a crime. The court noted that the child used his father's weapon in the attack.

The court also sentenced shooting instructor Nemanja Marinkovic to 15 months in prison.

Since K.K. lacked criminal responsibility due to his age under Serbian law, he has been held in a psychiatric center since the attack, with contact with his mother prohibited.

The verdict is subject to an appeals process.

At the time of the attack, K.K. was 14 years old. On May 3, 2023, he opened fire on a security guard and students at Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School. The attack resulted in 10 deaths, including nine children and one security guard, as well as six injuries, including five children and one teacher.

Reports revealed that K.K. had planned the attack for a month, with a list of targeted students and a school map found in his possession.

Following the attack, protests were held across Serbia.