Winnenden School Shooting

Winnenden, Germany · 2009

solved Mass / school shooting March 11, 2009

Perpetrator

Tim Kretschmer

Tim Kretschmer was a 17-year-old former student of the Albertville-Realschule in Winnenden. He had received psychiatric treatment for depression but had stopped attending sessions. On the morning of the attack he took a 9mm Beretta pistol and ammunition belonging to his father, a member of a gun club, who kept the weapon improperly stored at home. Kretschmer killed himself after a shootout with police later that day.

Known Victims

At least 15 total — known victims include:

Students and teachers at Albertville-Realschule (9 students, 3 teachers)
Bystanders during the escape and at Wendlingen

Location

Albertville-Realschule, Winnenden, Winnenden, Germany

Summary

A 17-year-old former student killed 15 people at his old school in Winnenden, Germany, and during his flight, before taking his own life.

Details

On 11 March 2009, Tim Kretschmer, a 17-year-old former pupil, entered the Albertville-Realschule in Winnenden and opened fire, killing nine students and three teachers. He then fled the area, killing a gardener and hijacking a car. After driving to Wendlingen, about 40 km away, he killed two more people at a car dealership and exchanged fire with police. Wounded, Kretschmer fatally shot himself. The attack left 15 victims dead and several others injured, and prompted national debate over gun storage laws in Germany.

Overview

The Winnenden school shooting took place on the morning of 11 March 2009 in Winnenden, a town in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, near Stuttgart. The perpetrator, 17-year-old Tim Kretschmer, a former pupil of the Albertville-Realschule, entered his old school armed with a handgun and opened fire. He killed nine students and three teachers at the school, then fled the area. During his flight he killed three more people before he died by suicide following a confrontation with police. In total, 15 people were killed in addition to the gunman, and several others were wounded.

The attack was one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern German history and prompted national mourning, intense media coverage, and a renewed debate over gun ownership and youth violence in Germany.

The attack at the school

On the morning of 11 March 2009, Kretschmer arrived at the Albertville-Realschule in Winnenden, which he had graduated from the previous year. Dressed in dark clothing, he entered the building and began shooting, moving through classrooms. The majority of those killed at the school were female students. Three teachers were also among the dead.

The attack triggered an immediate large-scale police response, and the school was evacuated and locked down. Emergency services treated the wounded, and the scale of the casualties became apparent within a short time. The speed and lethality of the assault shocked the local community and the nation.

The flight and final confrontation

After leaving the school, Kretschmer fled the immediate area. He hijacked a vehicle, forcing the driver to take him toward the nearby town of Wendlingen. During this flight he killed additional people, including at a car dealership, bringing the total number of victims to 15.

Police pursued him, and a shootout followed in Wendlingen in which officers and bystanders were wounded. Cornered by police, Kretschmer ultimately turned the weapon on himself and died. The drawn-out flight, spanning multiple municipalities, contributed to the prolonged shock and fear experienced across the region that day.

Perpetrator and weapon

Tim Kretschmer was 17 years old at the time of the attack and lived in Leutenbach, near Winnenden. He had been a student at the Albertville-Realschule. Reports following the shooting indicated he had previously been in psychological treatment, though the full details of his mental state and motive were the subject of investigation and debate.

The weapon used was a pistol taken from his family home. His father legally owned firearms as a sport shooter, and investigators determined the gun and ammunition had been accessible to Kretschmer. The question of how the weapon was stored became a central issue in the subsequent legal and political fallout.

Aftermath and legal consequences

The shooting prompted a national debate in Germany about gun control, the storage of legally owned firearms, the influence of violent media, and the handling of at-risk youths. Calls were made to tighten Germany's already strict firearms laws, and changes to storage and control requirements were discussed and implemented in the period that followed.

Kretschmer's father faced legal proceedings related to the storage of the firearm used in the attack. He was convicted in connection with negligence over how the weapon and ammunition were kept, a verdict that was the subject of appeals. The case drew attention to the responsibilities of legal gun owners regarding secure storage.

Legacy

The Winnenden shooting remains one of the most significant acts of mass violence in recent German history and is frequently cited in discussions of school shootings in Europe. Memorials and commemorations have been held for the victims, and survivor and victims' groups have advocated for stricter gun laws and improved prevention of such attacks.

The tragedy reinforced public scrutiny of firearm storage and youth mental health support in Germany. It continues to be referenced in policy discussions and remains a defining event for the town of Winnenden and the wider community affected by the loss of life.

Video Coverage

Frequently asked questions

What was the Winnenden School Shooting case?

A 17-year-old former student killed 15 people at his old school in Winnenden, Germany, and during his flight, before taking his own life.

Who was responsible for Winnenden School Shooting?

Tim Kretschmer. Tim Kretschmer was a 17-year-old former student of the Albertville-Realschule in Winnenden. He had received psychiatric treatment for depression but had stopped attending sessions. On the morning of the attack he took a 9mm Beretta pistol and ammunition belonging to his father, a member of a gun club, who kept the weapon improperly stored at home. Kretschmer killed himself after a shootout with police later that day.

How many victims were there in the Winnenden School Shooting case?

At least 15 victims are associated with this case, including named victims such as Students and teachers at Albertville-Realschule (9 students, 3 teachers), Bystanders during the escape and at Wendlingen.

Where and when did the Winnenden School Shooting case take place?

It took place in Winnenden, Germany in 2009.

Was the Winnenden School Shooting case solved?

This case is recorded as solved.

Sources & further reading

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