In brief
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.
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.
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
