A former police officer reportedly killed six people and wounded six others — most in their 90s — during a shooting rampage at a retirement home in Croatia on Monday.
The gunman fled the scene after the slaughter in the town of Daruvar, about 60 miles east of the capital of Zagreb, but was arrested at a nearby cafe, Croatian Chief Director of Police Nikola Milina said, according to the Associated Press.
Regional TV station N1 identified the shooter as a former police officer who was born in 1973 and fought in the 1991-95 war in Croatia, AP said.
His mother, who'd lived in the retirement home for the past 10 years, was reportedly among five residents who were fatally shot, along with an employee.
Zlatko Sutuga, who lives in Daruvar, told Nova TV that he knew the assailant "from the war times."
"People say that he was really aggressive, alcohol and all that," Sutuga said. "His mom was inside, he allegedly came to kill her."
Daruvar Mayor Damir Leneicek said about 20 people lived in the single-story retirement home, where relatives of the residents gathered outside to find out the fate of their loved ones.
"We have my mom here, she is 90," Nina Samot told Nova TV. "This is horrific what has happened, this is such a small town. Especially when you have someone inside."
Samot added, "We are waiting, we are all in shock. The whole town is in shock."
Police said the gun used in the mass shooting was unregistered and Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said the "savage, unprecedented crime" pointed to the need for stricter gun control laws.
"It is a frightening warning and a last call to all competent institutions to do more to prevent violence in society, including even more rigorous control of gun ownership," he said.
The violent breakup of Yugoslavia and ensuing conflict during the 1990s left many firearms in private hands, according to AP.
