A “gun lover” allegedly shot his dad and a neighbour dead, before opening fire at first responders and finally shooting himself in the throat.
The horror spree killing began on Saturday (17 Aug) evening when Ewald Kühbacher’s neighbours heard a blazing row from his flat.
Moments later, they smelled a strong scent of gas, prompting them to call the fire brigade.
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As firefighters rushed to the scene in San Candido, Italy, Kühbacher, 49, began shooting from his window.
When they arrived, he shot at their truck.
The Civil Protection Department issued a radio alert urging locals to stay indoors and local public transport services were halted.
Special forces soon arrived on the scene.
After hours of stalemate, they decided to enter the block of flats shortly after 10.30 am on Sunday (18 Aug).
Inside, they found the body of Kühbacher’s neighbour Waltraud Jud.
They believe he shot Jud, 50, after she stepped out of her flat to see what was going on.
The special forces smashed open Kühbacher’s door and were met by gunfire, with a police officer sustaining minor injuries during the altercation.
Kühbacher retreated to another room, where he proceeded to shoot himself in the throat.
He died in a hospital in Bolzano a few hours later.
In the flat, the police found his 90-year-old father’s deceased body.
Kühbacher had worked as a security guard and then as a baker.
After being laid off, he began caring for his dad, who was bedridden.
There were several firearms legally owned by both men in the flat, as reported by Need To Know.
Kühbacher’s father, Hermann, had worked as a gamekeeper about 20 years earlier.
His dad’s job had reportedly led him to becoming passionate about pistols and rifles.
It is believed Kühbacher used multiple firearms over the course of his shooting spree.
Chillingly, one witness told local press how – amid the sound of gunshots – a neighbour screamed: “We’ve been neighbours for 49 years, please stop.”
Kühbacher led a reclusive life and liked to keep to himself.
It is not clear what caused his rage but there is currently no evidence he had mental health issues or was in treatment.
The investigation continues.
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