2022 Kusel shooting

Coordinates: 49°34′43″N 07°25′43″E / 49.57861°N 7.42861°E / 49.57861; 7.42861
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2022 Kusel shooting
LocationDistrict street 22 between the towns of Mayweilerhof and Ulmet
Coordinates49°34′43″N 07°25′43″E / 49.57861°N 7.42861°E / 49.57861; 7.42861
DateJanuary 31, 2022 (2022-01-31)
4:20 a.m. (UTC+1)
TargetPolice officers
Attack type
Homicide, shootout
WeaponsFirearm
Deaths2 police officers
PerpetratorAndreas Johannes Schmitt
Motiveunknown
Investigators at the scene of the incident

In Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, two police officers were fatally shot during a traffic stop on 31 January 2022. The Public prosecutor's office believes that the two arrested suspects were attempting to cover up their poaching.

Incident[edit]

In the early morning of January 31st, 2022, two uniformed police officers from the Rhineland-Palatinate State Police were on a routine patrol, when they conducted a traffic stop on a motor vehicle which was transporting dead game[1]. The officers, who were patrolling in an unmarked vehicle, radioed about checking "dubious persons" in a car and would perform a closer inspection. At approximately 4:20 a.m., the officers radioed about shots being fired[2]. The 24-year-old policewoman was shot to the head from close range, and fell to the ground, though still alive. Thinking she had died, the suspect then fired at the other officer who was near the patrol car, hitting and injuring him. The police officer returned fire with his service pistol but missed. The suspect then switched weapons to a hunting rifle, firing three shots and killing the officer by shooting him in the head. After killing the officer, the suspect began searching the female officer for evidence that could link back to him, but when he saw she was still alive, grabbed his shotgun and fired a fatal shot to her head.[3] The suspects fled the scene after the incident. Responding officers attempted to perform life-saving measures, but both officers were declared deceased at the scene.

Casualties[edit]

The killed officers were a 29-year-old male, identified as Alexander Klos, and a 24-year-old female, identified as Yasmin Maria Bux. The female police officer was studying policing at the time the shooting happened.[4]

Manhunt & Apprehension[edit]

Police in Rhineland-Platinate and police in neighbouring Saarland carried out a massive manhunt. Police were looking for a suspect already known to the police. As the German press Agency reported, the man had been noticed in the past because of an accident hit-and-run and had a firearm license. "We assume several armed perpetrators," said a police spokeswoman.[5] Later in the investigation, the police found the drivers licence and the ID-card of Andreas Schmitt at the crime scene.[6]

At 4 p.m. the same day, the West-Palatinate police issued a press release, stating that initial investigations led to a suspicion of a crime against 38-year-old Andreas Johannes Schmitt from Spiesen-Elversberg. The police were actively searching for the man. Public prosecutors and police asked the public for help.[7]

In the early evening, the police arrested both the wanted Andreas Schmitt and a 32-year-old suspected accomplice in Sulzbach/Saar.[8] Neither offered any resistance. According to the police, firearms were seized during searches of two objects in Sulzbacher Bahnhofstrasse. A suspect's car was also found on that street with bullet holes.[9][10]

Investigations[edit]

The investigating judge assumes that the two suspects were on their way to poach in the district of Kusel. Public prosecutor's office believe that both suspects fired shots. During the investigation, a shotgun and a hunting rifle were seized.[11]

Suspects[edit]

The two arrested suspects are friends of each other.

Andreas Schmitt[edit]

The main suspect, Andreas Johannes Schmitt, is known to the police for poaching and traffic hit-and-run. However, he has no legally binding criminal record.[12] He invoked his right to remain silent.[11] In November 2022, Schmitt was convicted of double murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment.[13]

Florian V.[edit]

The 32-year-old Florian V. is known to the police for fraud offences. He had no criminal record at the time of his arrest.[12] Among other things, the alleged accomplice was targeted by the investigators because, according to media information, he called Schmitt's wife after the shooting. He later admitted to the poaching, according to the prosecutor's office. He had also described the police control. However, he denies having shot himself.[11]

The suspect later made a comprehensive statement and heavily incriminated Andreas Schmidt. He said when the police officers asked for his hunting license, he said he had to get it out of the car. Instead, Schmitt got the shotgun out of the car and shot the female officer and then shot at the male officer. Schmitt instructed him to find his ID or he would kill him too, he said.[14][15]

Reactions[edit]

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said: "Regardless of the motive behind the crime, this act is reminiscent of an execution, and it shows that police officers risk their lives every day for our safety."[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Two German police shot dead, suspects at large – DW – 01/31/2022". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  2. ^ Press, Associated (2022-01-31). "Germany: 2 police officers shot dead, 2 suspects detained". WJXT. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  3. ^ "Suspect in Kusel killings shot policewoman as she lay wounded on ground, prosecutor says". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  4. ^ Zeitung, Süddeutsche (31 January 2022). "Rheinland-Pfalz: Zwei Polizisten im Landkreis Kusel erschossen". Süddeutsche.de (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  5. ^ KG, VRM GmbH & Co (2022-01-31). ""Die schießen!" – Zwei Polizisten bei Kusel getötet". www.allgemeine-zeitung.de (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  6. ^ Aktuell, S. W. R. "Wilderei soll Motiv für mutmaßlichen Mord an Polizisten gewesen sein". swr.online (in German). Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  7. ^ "POL-PPWP: Zwei Polizeibeamte tödlich verletzt - Öffentlichkeitsfahndung nach Andreas Johannes Schmitt". presseportal.de (in German). Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  8. ^ Aktuell, S. W. R. (February 2022). "Polizei fasst zweiten Verdächtigen nach tödlichen Schüssen bei Kusel". swr.online (in German). Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  9. ^ "Das ist über die Tatverdächtigen bislang bekannt". www.t-online.de (in German). 31 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  10. ^ "Kusel: Tödliche Schüsse auf Beamte - Polizei nimmt zwei Tatverdächtige fest". Der Spiegel (in German). 2022-01-31. ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  11. ^ a b c ONLINE, RP (2022-02-01). "Zwei Polizisten erschossen: Ermittler vermuten Vertuschung von Wilderei als Motiv". RP ONLINE (in German). Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  12. ^ a b Aktuell, S. W. R. "Liveticker zu tödlichen Schüssen auf Polizisten bei Kusel: Wilderei als Motiv für mutmaßlichen Mord". swr.online (in German). Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  13. ^ "Kaiserslautern court sentences police killer to life in prison". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  14. ^ "Getötete Polizisten – Wurde Tatverdächtiger Florian V. mit dem Tod bedroht?". www.rnd.de (in German). 3 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  15. ^ News.de-Redaktion (11 February 2022). "Polizisten-Mord von Kusel: Neue Details zur Tatnacht - Andreas S. lud vor jedem Schuss nach!". News.de (in German). Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  16. ^ "Innenministerin Faeser zu Schüssen auf Polizisten: Tat erinnert an "Hinrichtung"". www.rnd.de (in German). 31 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
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