Father of Belgrade school shooter sentenced to 14 years in prison

Thursday 18 June 2026 - 13:30

A Serbian court has sentenced the father of the teenager responsible for the 2023 Belgrade school shooting to 14 years in prison, while the boy’s mother received a two-year sentence. The ruling marks another chapter in a case that deeply shocked Serbia and sparked a national debate on gun ownership, parental responsibility, and violence in society.

The tragedy occurred in May 2023 when a 13-year-old student entered his school carrying a handgun that investigators determined had belonged to his father. The teenager fatally shot nine students and a school security guard, making it one of the deadliest school attacks in the country's modern history.

Because Serbian law considers children below a certain age criminally irresponsible, the teenager could not be prosecuted. Instead, attention turned to the circumstances that allowed him to gain access to a firearm and carry out the attack. The boy was placed in a specialized psychiatric institution and later provided testimony during legal proceedings involving his parents.

Prosecutors argued that failures in firearm storage and parental supervision contributed to the tragedy. The court ultimately found the parents responsible for negligence and abuse-related offenses connected to the handling and accessibility of the weapon.

The case has attracted widespread public attention since the original verdict was overturned on appeal and sent back for reconsideration. The new judgment can also be challenged through further legal appeals.

The school shooting had a profound impact on Serbian society. Less than two days after the attack, another mass shooting occurred south of Belgrade, leaving several more victims dead and intensifying concerns about public safety and access to weapons.

Although Serbia does not frequently experience mass shootings, the country has a relatively high number of legally and illegally owned firearms, a legacy partly linked to conflicts in the Balkans during the 1990s. The two tragedies prompted large public demonstrations calling for stronger gun control measures, greater institutional accountability, and efforts to reduce the normalization of violence in public discourse and media.

The latest court ruling is likely to remain a significant reference point in discussions about parental responsibility, firearm security, and the prevention of youth violence. As Serbia continues to reflect on the events of 2023, policymakers and civil society groups are expected to maintain pressure for reforms aimed at strengthening public safety and protecting young people.