Boy accidentally shoots, kills self

The school community of Reigersbos in Amsterdam ZuidOost is in mourning since last week, after a 14-year-old student accidentally shot and killed himself with an alarm pistol he bought on the internet.

Police say there are no indications that Siddharta Mahes meant to kill himself when he pulled the trigger of the gun last week Monday. He had bought the alarm pistol on the internet and had converted it to fire bullets; most likely he was experimenting with the weapon when it went off and a bullet hit him in the head. His mother found him in his bedroom, gravely injured. She called for an ambulance, but he was beyond any help.

“It is an unfortunate incident. It is not strange for 14-year-old boys to find guns exciting, but admittedly he did take it a bit too far,” police reacted. They are now trying to find out who Siddartha had purchased the weapon from. It is illegal to own a converted alarm pistol; it is also not allowed for anyone younger than 18 to own a regular alarm pistol.

The incident was not made public until today; the boy’s school in Reigersbos has meanwhile opened a condolence register. The school characterized Siddhartha as a boy who was loved by many. “He was there for everybody; very ambitious and he knew what his goals for the future were. He always said he wanted to become a billionaire.”