BELGRADE, Serbia — A Serbian court convicted the parents of a teenage boy responsible for a tragic shooting incident in May 2023, where he killed nine students and a school security guard, injuring six others. The Higher Court in Belgrade sentenced the boy’s father, Vladimir Kecmanovic, to 14 years and six months in prison on charges related to serious threats to public safety and neglecting his parental responsibilities. His mother, Miljana Kecmanovic, received a sentence of three years for neglect but was acquitted of charges regarding illegal weapons possession.
The shooter, identified as Kosta Kecmanovic, was only 13 at the time of the incident, making him exempt from prosecution under Serbian law due to his age. Following the shooting, both parents were detained shortly after and faced legal action for not securing their firearms away from their son, which directly facilitated the tragic event.
The shocking massacre at the Vladislav Ribnikar primary school sent ripples of fear through the Balkan country, which, despite facing numerous crises, had never previously experienced a mass school shooting. The defense attorney, Irina Borovic, expressed that the verdict was anticipated due to extensive public pressure and high expectations for accountability, indicating an intent to appeal the court’s decision.
Ninela Radicevic, a grieving parent who lost her daughter in the shooting, voiced her discontent with the situation, stating that no one has taken responsibility for the deaths of the nine children and the security guard. The boy used firearms belonging to his father to carry out the attack, initiating it in the school hallway before progressing into a classroom where he continued firing.
In Serbia, elementary education typically serves children aged 7 to 15. According to police reports, the assailant made a call to authorities after the shooting, calmly detailing his actions. Following the incident, he has been held at a specialized facility and testified during his parents’ trial, which was closed to the public except during the announcement of the sentences.
Additionally, a shooting instructor from the boy’s practice range received a 15-month prison sentence for providing false testimony during the proceedings. The aftermath of the school shooting was particularly chaotic, as it was quickly followed by another mass shooting incident involving a 21-year-old gunman, Uros Blazic, who killed nine and injured 12 individuals in villages near Belgrade. Blazic was sentenced to 20 years in prison earlier this month.
These two violent acts led to widespread protests and prompted a national movement to address illegal gun ownership throughout the region, highlighting a growing concern about public safety and security in Serbia.
