A tragic school shooting took place at Jokiranta school in Vantaa, Finland, near Helsinki on Tuesday, April 2, resulting in the death of a 12-year-old student and leaving two others of the same age seriously wounded. The school is part of the Viertola educational complex.
The alleged shooter, also a 12-year-old student from the same school, initially escaped on foot but was later apprehended by the police, with a handgun found in his possession. This weapon was later verified as a registered firearm, licensed to a relative of the suspect.
The authorities have confirmed that during an initial police interview, the boy admitted to his actions.
Local law enforcement promptly responded to the incident on Tuesday morning. However, due to Finnish law, the suspect is not eligible for formal arrest as he is under the age of criminal responsibility. After the police investigation concludes, child welfare authorities will manage the suspect’s case.
At the time of the incident, over 800 students and 90 staff members were present at the school, which serves a broad range of student age groups.
In response to the terrible event, The Finnish government expressed its shock. Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo offered his condolences to the victims, their families, and the entire school community, while President Alexander Stubb sent wishes of recovery to those wounded.
The ongoing investigation of this case currently includes one charge of murder and two counts of attempted murder, emphasizing the severity of the incident and its deep impact on Finland.
The incident has rekindled memories of the 2007 and 2008 school shootings in Finland, leading to considerable changes in the country’s gun control laws. These included increasing the minimum age for firearm licenses and implementing more thorough background checks, to prevent such incidents.
Finland, with over 1.5 million licensed firearms and approximately 430,000 license holders, allows gun ownership from the age of 15 with parental consent. This recent shooting has sparked calls to reevaluate gun laws and to improve youth mental health support measures, particularly in light of past school shootings in Finland that resulted in stricter gun regulations.
Reacting to the incident, Education Minister Anna-Maja Henriksson expressed her heartbreak over the loss of a young life and its impact on the larger school community.
In response to the tragedy, April 4 has been declared a national day of mourning, symbolizing the country’s shared grief and solidarity with the victims and their families.
