Shots in Stade: Investigators Examine Gun Purchase One Week Before the Attack
Stade, July 2, 2026
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Summary
Following the deadly shooting in Stade that left six dead, evidence pointing to a planned attack is mounting: the 45-year-old suspect is said to have purchased the murder weapon a week earlier on Kurfürstendamm in Berlin. Police have set up a homicide commission, and an arrest warrant on six counts of murder was issued on Tuesday.
Stade, July 2, 2026
Following the deadly shooting at a youth welfare facility in Stade that left six dead, investigators have obtained new findings regarding the alleged perpetrator: the 45-year-old is said to have purchased the murder weapon — a Beretta Model 70 — about one week before the attack on Kurfürstendamm in Berlin.
Gun Purchase in Berlin One Week Before the Attack
As reported by NDR, citing its own research, the 45-year-old man from the Hannover area allegedly acquired the weapon in Berlin and paid around 4,000 euros for it along with 21 rounds of ammunition. This strengthens indications that the man had planned the attack, which took place last Monday. Police had apprehended the alleged gunman at the scene.
According to current investigations, the weapon is a Beretta Model 70. Police initially declined to comment on the details surrounding the weapon's origin, referring to the ongoing investigation by the established homicide commission.
Arrest Warrant on Six Counts of Murder
The Stade Local Court (Amtsgericht Stade) issued an arrest warrant on six counts of murder against the 45-year-old on Tuesday afternoon, as the public prosecutor's office announced in the evening. The public prosecutor's office accuses the man of perfidious treachery (Heimtücke) and base motives.
In the attack on Monday at a youth welfare facility operated by the Region Hannover in Stade, four women and two men lost their lives. Three of those killed were employees of the youth welfare services of the Region Hannover. The shooting caused nationwide horror.
Homicide Commission Takes Over Investigation
Police announced on Tuesday that a homicide commission (Mordkommission) had taken over the investigation. The special commission was deployed because, given the scope and complexity of the crime, the investigation needed to be handled by a specialized unit. It was to take over the investigation "aufgrund des Umfangs und der Komplexität des Tatgeschehens" (due to the scope and complexity of the crime), police said on Tuesday.
The Region Hannover expressed being deeply shaken by the loss of three of its employees. "Unsere Gedanken und unser tiefes Mitgefühl gelten den Familien, Freundinnen und Freunden der Getöteten sowie allen Kolleginnen und Kollegen, die dieses unfassbare Ereignis verarbeiten müssen," the Region Hannover said. Federal President Steinmeier also said he was "tief erschüttert" (deeply shaken).
Debate on Violence Against Public Sector Employees
The German Civil Service Federation (Deutscher Beamtenbund, DBB) meanwhile pointed to a structural problem. DBB chair Geyer told the "Rheinische Post": "Seit Jahren weise der Verband auf die wachsende Zahl von Gewalttaten gegen Beschäftigte des öffentlichen Dienstes hin." The Stade attack must be taken as an occasion to improve the protection of public sector employees.
At the center of the investigation is also the suspect's prior history involving his former partner and their joint daughter. According to information from the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" (SZ), NDR, and WDR, the daughter was brought to a clinic in Hannover by her parents as a roughly five-week-old infant in an emergency.
Prior History: Infant Treated in Clinic
The parents had described the incident to the clinic as an accident, according to SZ, NDR, and WDR. The treating physicians at the clinic themselves filed a criminal complaint with police against the 45-year-old, as they had felt threatened — including by his aggressive behavior, according to the public prosecutor's office. In that case, there had been suspicion of child abuse.
A family court ultimately ordered that the infant be reunited with the mother. After discharge from the clinic in Hannover, mother and child were reunited with the 45-year-old on the 26th. Afterward, there were further documented incidents involving the child.
Godmother Contradicts Parents' Account
A divergent account of the prior history was laid out by the child's godmother in a written statement that she sent by email to NDR and other media outlets — three days before the appointment at the Stade facility, to which she is said to have driven the 45-year-old. Regarding the hospital stay, she instead spoke of "Widersprüchen, Ungereimtheiten und unzulänglichen Dokumentationen des medizinischen Personals."
Among other things, the youth welfare office (Jugendamt) had apparently not been fully informed of the parents' account of how the accident occurred. From the godmother's perspective, there had been indications of a non-natural course of events. This view stands in contradiction to the statements made by the suspect.
In the hours after the attack, both the 34-year-old mother of the joint daughter and the companion of the 45-year-old alleged gunman were released from police custody. According to investigators, no further investigation will be conducted against them for the time being. The Stade public prosecutor's office initially declined to comment on possible motives beyond those already stated.
Memorial Service Planned in Hannover
On Wednesday (2:00 p.m.), a memorial service is to be held in Hannover for the three employees of the youth welfare services of the Region Hannover. The memorial will take place in a small, intimate circle. The Region Hannover announced that psychological support would be offered to all employees.
This news was broadcast on 01.07.2026 on Deutschlandfunk. Reporting on the attack continues. Investigators continue to ask witnesses who can provide information about the incident to contact police.
Questions & Answers
Which weapon is the suspect in Stade alleged to have used?
According to current investigations, it is a Beretta Model 70, which the 45-year-old allegedly purchased on Kurfürstendamm in Berlin about a week before the attack, according to NDR information. He is said to have paid around 4,000 euros for the weapon and 21 rounds of ammunition.
How many people were killed in Stade?
In the attack on Monday at a youth welfare facility in Stade, four women and two men were killed. Among the victims are three employees of the youth welfare services of the Region Hannover.
What happened in the prior history involving the suspect's child?
According to information from SZ, NDR, and WDR, the suspect's daughter was brought to a clinic in Hannover as a roughly five-week-old infant after the parents had described the incident as an accident. A family court later ordered that the infant be reunited with the mother.
Shots in Stade: Suspected Gunman Allegedly Bought Weapon | allfacts360
