Big News Network.com Friday 4th January, 2013
GENEVA - A gunman shot dead three women and left two men injured before police shot him in the chest after the shooting in southern Switzerland, officials said about the incident that triggered nationwide debate on gun culture.
The suspect was said to be a 33-year-old unemployed man living on disability payments. The police is still not clear about the motive behind the shooting.
The gunman had fired about 20 shots Wednesday night in the village of Daillon.
Three women were killed and two men were wounded, officials said.
Armed with a Swiss military rifle and a handgun, the suspect opened fire from his apartment and pursued people in the street
He even threatened to shoot the officers who wanted to stop him.
He was arrested and taken to the hospital with serious wounds.
"We have no words to express ourselves after an event like this," said Christophe Germanier, head of the Conthey District.
Prosecutor Catherine Seppey said the suspect was treated for psychiatric problems in the past.
The three dead women were said to be 32, 54 and 79 years old. All of them had received at least two bullets, police said.Officials said it was unclear how the suspect obtained the two guns that were confiscated. Gun records show he owned no licensed weapons.
The shooting sparked off a debate about gun regulation in Switzerland, one of the richest countries in the world and with one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world.
There are said to be at least 2.3 million weapons among a Swiss population of less than 8 million.
Gun clubs and hunting are popular in the country.
Swiss men required to do national service often take their army rifles, now semi-automatic assault rifles, home with them, to be ready in case there is an exterior invasion.
Friday, 04 January 2013 16:58
Swiss man with psychiatric problems & no registered guns, guns down 3 women
Written by reg mathusz
Published in
Commentary
