Bio

Kosta Kecmanović was born on July 30, 2009, in Belgrade, Serbia. He grew up in a family known in the city. His father, Vladimir, worked as a radiologist. His mother, Miljana, was an assistant professor of microbiology at the University of Belgrade.

He lived with his parents and a sister. The household also included a dog, an uncle who was mentioned in family accounts, and a nanny who cared for the children. His parents were described as getting along well. At home, rules were not strict; one form of discipline was taking away a mobile phone when needed. He and his sister were expected to be friendly and well-mannered.

Kosta went to Vladislav Ribnikar Model Elementary School in the Vračar area of Belgrade. The school is known for bilingual Serbian–French education and has around 1,000 students. He was a seventh-grade student there and had recently joined the class he attended.

Teachers and others described him as a quiet and academically successful student. He played the tactical shooter video game Valorant and kept in touch online with friends. He was reported to miss his family members, including his parents, sister, dog, and uncle.

Murder Story

On the morning of 3 May 2023, a shooting occurred at Vladislav Ribnikar Model Elementary School in the Vračar municipality of Belgrade. The shooter was identified as 13-year-old Kosta Kecmanović. Ten people died, including nine students and a security guard. Six others, five students and a teacher, were wounded.

Kecmanović surrendered and was taken into custody. Because he was under 14, he could not face criminal charges under Serbian law. He was placed under the care of the Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatry Clinic in Belgrade. His phone was sent for forensic examination and he was questioned by authorities and medical professionals.

The parents of the victims and the public sought legal and civil actions after the attack. Kecmanović’s parents were arrested and later charged. The criminal trial of the parents began on 29 January 2024. On 30 December 2024, they were found guilty of failing to secure a firearm used in the incident. Vladimir Kecmanović was sentenced to 14.5 years in prison and Miljana Kecmanović to three years. A gun instructor who taught Kosta received a prison term of one year and three months. Several civil lawsuits were filed by victims’ families and others. Courts later found Kecmanović, his parents, and the school liable in some of those suits and ordered monetary compensation.

The shooting led to national measures and public reaction. The government proposed changes to gun policy and to the minimum age of criminal responsibility. Authorities launched a temporary amnesty for surrendering illegal or unregistered weapons, known as "Hand Over Your Weapons." The call resulted in thousands of firearms and rounds of ammunition being turned in. Large public protests called for political and institutional changes. National days of mourning were declared, and schools and institutions adjusted operations while mental health support was increased.