Suspect in random fatal shootings in Rotterdam stayed silent during police questioning

The 24-year-old who is suspected of shooting three people in IJsselmonde, Rotterdam, has been questioned three times by police. “He has partly made some statements, but he is mainly using his right to remain silent,” said his attorney Marco Bos. The Rotterdam court's chamber will decide whether the man's pre-trial detention will be extended on Thursday.

The man is suspected of triple murder or manslaughter and possession of a firearm. He was arrested on the balcony of a house on the Emelissedijk on Thursday, January 2, at around 11:15 p.m. after a manhunt.

Earlier that day, a man had been shot for the third time in two weeks in the area. The other shooting incidents took place on December 21 and December 28. The fatal victims were men of the ages 58, 63, and 81 and seemed to be chosen at random. Two of these were shot in the head.

The man is no longer in full custody, but his lawyer nevertheless does not want to say anything more about the motive. “It is not in my client’s interests to discuss that in detail,” said the attorney.

He added that he does not know whether his client will be present at the closed hearing in the court’s chamber on Thursday. “He has the right to appear, but it is a free choice for the suspect on whether he will or won’t.” The court can extend his pre-trial detention by a maximum of 90 days. The criminal case must be heard in public before the court after this.

A 20-year-old from Amsterdam who is a fellow suspect had his pre-trial detention extended by 90 days on Tuesday in the court’s chambers. A spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service said that the Amsterdammer is suspected of involvement in supplying the murder weapon and ammunition to the 24-year-old main suspect. The man from Amsterdam was arrested on December 30 after the first two fatal shootings.

The first victim of the shootings was found heavily wounded on the Rederdijk on December 21 at 10 p.m. He was 63 years old at the time. The man was walking over the bike path at the time of the shooting. He died of his injuries several days later.

A 58-year-old man was shot at almost the exact same time on December 28. The man was shot on the Roelantpad when he was on his way home. The man died that same evening as a result of the shooting.

The last and final shooting came on Thursday morning, January 2, on the Bommelerwaard. An 81-year-old man was shot at around 10 a.m. He was also on his way home. He died that same evening, shortly before the suspect was arrested.