Residents of Rotterdam-IJsselmonde are in fear and disbelief following a shooting incident where an 81-year-old man was shot by an unknown assailant. This marks the third shooting in the Rotterdam district over the past twelve days.
A local resident, who knows the victim, expressed his sadness and shared that he interacted with the victim almost daily. Mohammed, another resident, mentioned his frequent contact with the victim and described him as a Dutchman who enjoyed Turkish music.
Nathalie, who grew up in the area, heard the shots while making coffee and initially mistook them for leftover New Year’s fireworks. Later, she realized the sounds were from a different cause when a police helicopter circled low.
The victim was returning from the pharmacy when he was shot on Bommelerwaard. He was found by bystanders and resuscitated but remains in critical condition at the hospital.
Security footage shows the victim heading towards the pharmacy with his cane around 9:30 AM, followed by the suspect 20 minutes later, suggesting the shooting might have been a random encounter, according to NOS reporter Joris van Poppel. The police released a new image of the suspect, linking him to two previous shootings in the area.
A reward of 30,000 euros is offered for information leading to an arrest. The motive remains unclear.
On December 21, a 63-year-old man was shot on Reyerdijk and later died. A week afterward, a 58-year-old man was found injured on Roelantpad and also succumbed to his injuries.
Police suspect the victims were randomly targeted. A 20-year-old Amsterdam resident is suspected of playing a “facilitating role” in the earlier incidents and was arrested on December 30.
Increased surveillance has been implemented in IJsselmonde and Beverwaard, with residents advised to call emergency services if they spot the suspect.
Source: NOS