A 29-year-old man was killed in a shooting at a bar in Göppingen, east of Stuttgart, late Wednesday night. Two others were injured in the attack, while the perpetrator fled the scene on foot.
Police launch manhunt, establish special commission
The police have initiated a large-scale search for the suspect, described as wearing black clothing, though there are currently no leads on his direction of escape. Both injured victims were taken to hospitals for treatment, according to the Ulm Police Department. In response to the incident, investigators have established a special commission to handle the case.
Potential connection to regional gang conflict
The State Criminal Police Office (LKA) of Baden-Württemberg is investigating possible links to ongoing conflicts between rival gangs in the greater Stuttgart area. Since summer 2022, this feud has resulted in multiple shootings and even a hand grenade explosion, though incidents have decreased in recent months. Over 70 suspected gang members have been arrested, with the rival groups estimated to include more than 500 mostly young members, split between the Esslingen-Ludwigsburg-Plochingen region and the Stuttgart district of Zuffenhausen and Göppingen. LKA President Andreas Stenger noted that these groups are neither family clans nor classic criminal gangs.
Local wine festival continues despite incident
Alexander Maier, Göppingen’s Green Party mayor, assured that there was no danger to the public and no indication of a rampage. The ongoing wine festival in Göppingen continued as planned, with Maier stating the events were unrelated. Heavily armed police officers secured the crime scene, and emergency services responded with multiple vehicles. The following day, the bar was sealed with an official notice, though police cordons had been removed. A passerby mentioned attending the wine festival with mixed feelings but without fear.
