Man (26) accused of paying 16-year-old to shoot someone, teen shot himself instead
A 26-year-old man from Katwijk, identified as R.d.J., is facing charges after a 16-year-old boy accidentally shot himself at Hofstad Lyceum, a secondary school in The Hague, while allegedly carrying out a scheme to shoot another person for money, AD reports.
Authorities say R.d.J. offered 2,500 euros to three teenagers, aged 15, 16, and 19, to shoot an unidentified person in the legs. On February 5, 2025, around 2:30 p.m., the plan ended tragically when the weapon discharged in a school restroom, killing the 16-year-old.
Emergency responders, including a trauma helicopter, rushed the boy to a hospital, but he later died from his injuries. Initial reports suggested a stabbing or assault, and the two other teens were linked to the gun and arrested. However, the police later confirmed that no external attack occurred.
R.d.J. allegedly supplied the three teens with a gun, vehicles, money, and written instructions to carry out the leg-shooting plan. Investigators also suspect him of criminal exploitation of the deceased teen. Court documents indicate R.d.J. is involved in importing, exporting, and trading soft drugs domestically.
The 19-year-old, S.W., was approached via Snapchat to act as a driver. He testified that he transported the 16-year-old and the weapon to Rotterdam on the night of February 4–5, but the plan failed after police stopped them. “I regret that he died. I am not a murderer; that I want to make clear,” S.W. told the court.
The 15-year-old accomplice, who allegedly arranged transportation and gave instructions, will face a closed-door hearing in October.
R.d.J.’s lawyer, Damian Roos, questioned whether his client played a directing or instigating role. “The key question is whether he played a controlling role. According to the defense, the answer is ‘no,’” Roos said during a preliminary hearing Monday. R.d.J.’s next preparatory hearing is scheduled for early December, with the full trial expected in mid-January.
Police first responded to reports of a severely injured student at the school on February 5. The boy was found with blood on his head and injuries to his face, and the incident caused major disruption at the school, which hosts approximately 1,000 students and is part of the UNESCO Schools Network.
