Peter Karlsson (ice hockey)

Lars Peter Karlsson (17 February 1966 – 11 March 1995) was a Swedish professional ice hockey player.

Playing career
Karlsson was born in Västerås Lundby, Västmanland. He began his ice hockey career with VIK Västerås HK in the First Division. After five seasons, he then had spells with Surahammars IF and before returning to Västerås for his one and only Elitserien season. He returned to Division One for and Örebro IK.

Death
Peter Karlsson was murdered on the night of 11 March 1995 in Västerås by a 19-year-old man he encountered while walking. His attacker, a 19-year-old white power skinhead, claimed that the two men had begun walking in the same direction and at some point, Karlsson made sexual advances towards him. Karlsson was stabbed 64 times in the face, head, neck, chest and back with a knife. A responding police officer who had coached Karlsson in his youth was unable to identify him due to the extent of his injuries. It was later found that Karlsson's attacker possessed anti-LGBT propaganda in his home. After the murder, Karlsson's team played a protest match in support of him. The killer's sentence, which was eight years, outraged some in the Swedish gay community who thought that the murder occurred because of Karlsson's sexuality. Karlsson was not openly gay, but had discussed his homosexuality with attendees of a nightclub the night previously.