A desperate man in the Silesian town of Rybnik opened fire at members of his family during a domestic row, Saturday, injuring seven people including his wife and teenage son.
The man, aged 39 and believed to be a miner, also shot a neighbour who tried to intervene in the row, as well as shooting at a police officer who arrived at the scene after being alerted by the man’s father-in-law, who managed to escape from the apartment and go to the nearest police station despite being wounded himself.
Miraculously, no-one died in the incident. All the wounded victims of the domestic shoot-out have been taken to various hospitals in the Silesian region. The man’s wife is reported to be in a critical state.
“When the argument broke out, there were a number of people in the apartment, including children. The man took a gun and started to fire shots, first at [the members of his family], and then from the window of the first-floor apartment,” Superintendent Aleksandra Nowara from Rybnik police told the press.
When police, anti-terrorist units and negotiators arrived at the incident in Rybnik’s Boguszowice district, the man started firing at them, managing to shoot both a police car as well an ambulance that arrived at the scene.
Eventually, police managed to incapacitate the man, who was found to be drunk. He suffered minor injuries during the confrontation.
Injury toll
According to police information, the man’s wife is in the most critical state, who suffered several shots the chest. The man’s mother-in-law was wounded in the thigh, while the father-in-law was shot in the shoulder. A 44-year-old neighbour sustained injuries to her head and torso. All four have been taken to hospital in Rybnik.
The man’s 15-year-old son was taken to hospital in the Silesian capital of Katowice with an injured jaw-bone, while the man’s brother-in-law was taken to a hospital in Jastrzebie Zdroj in a critical condition. A 38-year-old policeman was also shot in the leg during the incident.
After finding out that there were explosive materials kept in the apartment, police evacuated the immediate vicinity. Inspectors found six fire-arms as well as mining detonators.
Drink problem?
According to initial reports, the 39-year-old man was not known to local police. The domestic row which ended with shots was started by the man who was already under the influence of alcohol.
“The man had abused alcohol for some time, and he was in financial difficulty,” Superintendent Nowara informed, adding that the man will hear charges brought against him when he becomes sober.
As stated by police, the 39-year-old man was employed at a mine, although it is unclear whether he still worked there. “The family has said that he returned home at odd hours, as if he didn’t go to work,” another policeman involved in the incident told the press.
The police are not disclosing what kind of fire-arm the man used, although witness accounts point to more than one gun being used in the row. Police are still searching the premises and taking down witness accounts. (jb)
Source: PAP
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