A 29-year-old man was killed and two others were injured in a shooting at a bar in Göppingen, east of Stuttgart, early Thursday morning. The police have launched a manhunt for the shooter who fled the scene on foot.
Special commission established
Following the incident, police deployed a large-scale operation in the area. The suspect, described as wearing black clothing, escaped on foot, with authorities having no leads on his direction of escape. In response, investigators have established a special commission to handle the case.
The state criminal police office (LKA) of Baden-Württemberg is involved in the investigation, particularly in securing evidence. A spokesperson for the LKA stated that they are examining possible connections to conflicts between rival gangs in the greater Stuttgart area.
No indication of rampage
Alexander Maier, the Green Party mayor of Göppingen, assured that there is no danger to the general public and no evidence suggesting this was a rampage shooting. The incident occurred while a wine festival was taking place in Göppingen, but Mayor Maier emphasized that the events were unrelated and the festival would continue as planned.
Police received multiple emergency calls reporting gunshots late Wednesday evening. Officers discovered three victims with gunshot wounds at the scene. The 29-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the location. Details about the conditions of the two other victims have not been disclosed.
Possible connection to gang rivalry
The shooting may be linked to an ongoing feud between rival groups in the Stuttgart area, which has seen multiple shootings and a hand grenade explosion since summer 2022. The LKA reports that over 70 suspected members have been arrested, with incidents decreasing in recent months.
According to expert estimates, the two groups – one associated with the Esslingen, Ludwigsburg, and Plochingen region, and the other with Stuttgart’s Zuffenhausen district and Göppingen – comprise more than 500 mostly young members. LKA President Andreas Stenger noted that these are neither family clans nor traditional criminal gangs, and the reason for their violent conflict remains largely unclear.
