Six adults killed in shooting at Germany youth welfare facility, suspected shooter in custody

Six adults were fatally shot Monday in a shooting at a youth welfare facility in northern Germany and the suspected shooter is in custody, according to local police.

Five of the victims were killed on site and the sixth died on the way to the hospital, according to the Associated Press. All six were employees of the welfare facility or its affiliates. Other people were injured, but the count was not immediately clear. 

The shooting took place in Stade, Germany, and authorities believe the incident could be related to a custody battle.

“The police are investigating the motive and the exact course of events under high pressure,” Daniela Behrens, interior minister for the Lower Saxony region, said in a news conference, adding that it was an extremely violent crime in cold blood, “apparently in a custody dispute.”

Three people have been taken into custody in the shooting, including the suspected shooter. The two others were subject to “police measures” on suspicion of involvement, the Associated Press reported.

Stade is located approximately 25 miles from Hamburg. It has a population of approximately 50,000 people.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.