After Tragedy – Last Honor for Police Officer Shot (27)

A village is in mourning. On Tuesday, the 27-year-old police officer, who was shot by a colleague in an accident while training in Graz last week, was buried in his hometown of Ligist, in western Styria.

Minister of the Interior was late
From the sports club to the volunteer fire brigade to the police, hundreds paid their last respects to the deceased. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) also arrived half an hour late. Much to the dismay of many mourners, who arrived in Ligist at ten o’clock in time for the funeral.

The Styrian police band played one last time for their colleagues in front of the assembled leaders of the state police headquarters.

Deadly shot during training
On September 14, the 27-year-old was fatally shot in the back while training in the basement of the Styria State Police headquarters. A trainer (39) had forgotten to exchange his regular service weapon for a so-called red weapon – incapacitated models used in exercises. The accident happened when he tried to demonstrate during training that he was not holding the weapon properly.

Inquiries into death by gross negligence
Since then, the public prosecutor in Graz has been investigating the man for death by gross negligence. “The investigation is still ongoing, but the state of affairs has broadly been clarified. We are just waiting for the gunshot report, the written autopsy report and the toxicology report,” said Christian Kroschl of the Graz prosecutor’s office.

It should take two to three weeks for the letter to arrive. Only then can a report be filed. If convicted, the shooter could face up to three years in prison.