On May 3, a 13-year-old boy killed nine people at a school in the Serbian capital of Belgrade. The tragedy took place in the affluent neighborhood of Vračar. The boy killed eight students and a security guard, methodically working his way through the school in search of victims. The boy is reportedly a student at the school and was detained in the possession of a 9mm pistol and several Molotov cocktails. Furthermore, the suspect’s parents were also taken in custody. The boy’s father had reportedly taken his son shooting in the past.
While Serbia has a high rate of firearms and firearm possession, mass shootings are rare. It was the first mass shooting since a man killed five and injured 25 at a cafe in Žitište in 2016. However, before the shock of the school shooting could even set in, eight people were killed in a drive-by shooting on Thursday.
Dončić To Cover Funeral Costs
While East Europeans have long had a place in the NBA, few have shone as brightly as Luka Dončić. Dončić was born in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana. However, his father, Saša, is of Serbian descent. Additionally, Dončić has family in the Belgrade area. That moved Dončić to announce on May 4 that he would pay the funeral costs of the individuals who lost their lives in the school shooting. He would also pay for survivors to receive grief counseling.
“I am heartbroken by the tragic school shooting in Serbia and the loss of lives, including those of innocent school children,” Dončić said in a statement. “My thoughts are with the families and the entire community affected by this tragedy. Through my foundation, I am exploring both immediate and long-term ways to support the students, faculty, and families affected by the shooting at the Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School. I am committed and I will continue to share updates and ways to support as details become available.”
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