Serbian Parents Sentenced for Neglect in School Shooting

Thu Jun 18 2026 22:30:53 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Serbian parents Vladimir and Miljana Kecmanović received jail sentences after a 2023 school shooting that claimed ten lives.

A 13‑year‑old fired 66 bullets at a Belgrade elementary school on 3 May 2023, killing ten people. In a 2025‑approved retrial, judges found the boy’s parents negligent, sentencing the father 14 ½ years and the mother 2 years 11 months. The decision follows earlier mixed verdicts, and both sides will appeal. The case highlights Serbia’s struggle over gun safety and parental responsibility.

Serbian Parents Sentenced for Neglect in School Shooting

In a retrial held in Belgrade, the parents of the 13‑year‑old shooter who killed ten people at a Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school in 2023 were sentenced to prison.

The boy fired 66 bullets over two minutes, claiming nine children and a school guard. The parents—Vladimir and Miljana Kecmanović—were found guilty of neglect. The father received a 14 ½‑year term, while the mother was given 2 years 11 months.

A woman in a cardigan looks worried while a man in a suit has his back to the camera — Miljana Kecmanović receives 2 years 11 months for neglect.

Earlier trials in 2024 mixed verdicts: the father was cleared of illegal possession but convicted of training his son with firearms; the mother was cleared of illegal possession but convicted of neglect. A 2025 appeal ordered a retrial to resolve contradictory judgments.

Both defense and prosecution are appealing the current jail terms, extending the legal battle. A lawyer for victims’ families, Zora Dobričanin, described the case as a “long fight” that will continue in appellate courts.

By Paul Kirby and Slobodan Maricic – 18 June 2026