A retrial in Belgrade on Thursday saw the parents of the 13‑year‑old who killed nine people in a school in May 2023 receive jail sentences for neglect. The judge found that the boy's mother was sentenced to two years and 11 months and his father to fourteen years and a half.
The shooter had been under the age of criminal responsibility when the incident on 3 May 2023 occurred. He had taken two handguns from his father's safe, packed them in a backpack, and entered the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school. According to reports, he fired 66 bullets over a period of two minutes and one second, killing nine people – seven girls, one boy and a school guard – while wounding five children and a history teacher.
In the original 2024 trial the father was found guilty of negligent storage of firearms and convicted for failing to keep them safe, whereas the mother was cleared of illegal possession but convicted for neglect. However, the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial in November 2025 because the earlier verdicts were deemed unclear and contradictory.
Both defense and prosecution have lodged appeals against the jail terms this year, indicating that the case is likely to continue through higher courts. The sentencing marks a significant moment in Serbia’s political and legal response to an unprecedented school shooting, prompting nationwide discussions about gun laws, child welfare and public safety reforms.
This development comes amid a broader context that includes a public gun amnesty and tougher legislation introduced following the May incident, as well as widespread protests by tens of thousands of citizens. The convictions are signaled as part of the nation’s effort to address the underlying causes of the tragedy and to reinforce accountability for parents and guardians who may fail to prevent such violence against children.
