Nine bullet holes in the stolen van, two projectiles struck a 14-year-old suspect in the hand and shoulder. Friday’s wild chase in the early morning hours in the Tyrolean lowlands, which eventually culminated in gunfire, continues to cause excitement. A team of the National Criminal Investigation Service of Carinthia has now taken over the investigation.
Were the police officers’ shots really necessary? And why nine in number? The incident on Friday morning in St. Johann in Tirol raises these and many other questions. The National Criminal Investigation Department only carried out the investigation at the beginning. Colleagues from the LKA Carinthia have since taken over the business. That is normal in such cases. To put an end to any suspicion of bias.
30km chase
It all started on Friday around 4.50 am in Wörgl (Kufstein district): A police patrol noticed the white Ford panel van that was on the wanted list two days earlier because of the theft. The driver ignored the attempts to stop and drove at breakneck speed around a roadblock at Going. “The driver was unfamiliar with the area and turned off onto the track in St. Johann after 30 kilometers,” says Detective Wolfgang Weninger. The car apparently got stuck there – and as two police officers approached on foot, there was suddenly a loud bang on the vehicle! Possibly a blowout?
The officers then shot a total of nine times at the back of the van. Projectiles penetrated the rear and interior walls, hitting one of the occupants – a local (14) – in the left hand and shoulder. He was operated on in hospital and his life is not in danger. The other two – another Tyrolean (14) and a Russian (13) – fled on foot. They were caught moments later by the Cobra near the crime scene in a hotel.
It later emerged that two other 13-year-olds had already escaped from the van during the original check in Wörgl. “Despite their minor status, those involved are known to the authorities for various crimes,” said Katja Tersch, head of the Tyrolean State Investigation Service, referring to previous burglaries, coercion and physical injuries.
Were shots justified?
Carinthian detectives are now investigating to what extent the shots of the experienced Tyrolean police officers (one with 36 years of service) were justified. “We did not find any weapons in the vehicle,” Tersch admitted. The Tyrolean LKA boss also warned against hasty conclusions. In any case, the investigation should be awaited.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
