Parents Sentenced in Belgrade School Shooting Tragedy

In a shocking turn of events, the parents of a teenager responsible for a mass shooting at a Belgrade school in May 2023 have been sentenced to prison. The shooting, which took place at Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school, resulted in the deaths of nine children and a security guard, shaking the nation to its core.

The boy, who was just 13 at the time of the attack, has been held in a psychiatric institution and cannot be tried due to his age. His father, Vladimir Kecmanović, received a sentence of 14-and-a-half years for failing to secure firearms and endangering public safety by teaching his son to shoot. His mother, Miljana Kecmanović, was sentenced to three years in prison for neglecting a minor but was acquitted of weapon possession charges.

The trial, which took place behind closed doors, also featured the testimony of the young shooter, referred to as KK, who was questioned as a witness in court. His appearance marked only his second outing from the psychiatric facility since the tragic incident. A family lawyer noted the emotional turmoil of parents of the victims who sought clarity on the motives behind the attack, while revealing that the boy led a seemingly normal life prior to the shooting.

The heartbreaking events in Belgrade were compounded just days later, when another shooting incident claimed eight more lives outside the capital, leading to a national conversation about gun violence and public safety in Serbia.