A spree shooting occurred in the Serbian village of Velika Ivanča in the early hours of 9 April 2013. That morning, 60-year-old Ljubiša Bogdanović, fatally shot thirteen people across several different locations before attempting suicide. Bogdanović died of his injuries two days later on 11 April 2013.
Attack At approximately 05:00 CEST (03:00 UTC), Bogdanović shot and killed his 83-year-old mother Dobrila and his 42-year-old son Branko, and wounded his wife Javorka with a shot to the head in their home.Стравичан злочин у Великој Иванчи, RTS (9 April 2013) The gunman then entered four neighboring houses, killing five men, five women, and a two-year-old child, most of whom were shot in the head while they were sleeping. The weapon used was reported to be a CZ-88 9mm pistol.Police director: Motive for shooting spree unknown , B92 (9 April 2013) The killing spree ended when police arrived at the scene after a call from Javorka Bogdanović. They found Ljubiša Bogdanović in the backyard of his house. He committed suicide, shooting himself in the head.Masakr kod Mladenovca: Ubio sina i još 12 komšija, pa pucao u sebe i suprugu, Blic (9 April 2013)
Twelve of the victims died at the scene, and one victim died later that day at a Belgrade hospital. Bogdanović and his wife were taken to hospital, each in critical condition. Ljubiša Bogdanović died from his injuries two days later.Serb Who Killed 13 in Rampage Dies, ABC News (11 April 2013)
Perpetrator
Ljubiša Bogdanović (; April 5, 1953 – 11 April 2013) was born in Velika Ivanča.13 people shot dead in village near Serbian capital, Belgrade, RTÉ (9 April 2013) His father committed suicide when he was a child, and he and his brother Radmilo were brought up by their grandfather Obrad, who was said to have been extremely strict and beat him when he made any mistakes. Bogdanović was a Serb veteran of the Croatian War of Independence, having served for four and a half months, and had held a firearm permit since 1981. Bogdanović and his son Branko had been employees of a Slovenian wood-processing factory in Mladenovac until 2012 when both lost their jobs.Smrtonosni trag masovnog ubice: Kako je Ljubiša Bogdanović zatro pet porodica, Blic (11 April 2013)
It was said that Bogdanović had a history of domestic violenceJavorka, supruga ubice: Tukao me je često, Večernje novosti (10 April 2013) and had a dispute with his son about his relationship with a woman whom Ljubiša Bogdanović did not approve of.Javorkin brat: Moj zet u kući bio tiranin, Večernje novosti (10 April 2013)
Although Bogdanović was not known to have suffered from mental illness, his family had a history of such illness. Besides Bogdanović's father committing suicide, his cousin and uncle suffered from mental illnesses, the latter being treated and eventually dying in a mental institution.13 people killed in shooting spree in Serbia, The Detroit News (9 April 2013)
Response A special meeting of the Serbian cabinet was called in response to the shooting. The government declared 10 April 2013 to be a day of mourning.
Victims Branko Bogdanović (42), Ljubiša's son Dobrila Bogdanović (83), Ljubiša's mother Mihajlo Despotović (61), Ljubiša's cousin Milena Despotović (61), Mihajlo's wife Goran Despotović (23), Mihajlo's and Milena's grandson Jovana Despotović (21), Goran's wife David Despotović (2), Goran's and Jovana's son Ljubina Ješić (64), neighbor Miloš Ješić (48), Ljubiša's son Velimir Mijailović (78), neighbor Olga Mijailović (79), Velimir's wife Dragana Stekić (50), Ljubiša's cousin Danica Stekić (78), Dragana's mother
See also Gun politics in Serbia List of massacres in Serbia List of rampage killers in Europe
References