Bio

He grew up in a "strict evangelical household" in Kempten, Bavaria. He was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses and later was described as a former member. On his website he described himself as a business consultant. He was single and was 35 years old in 2023.

In 2022 he self-published a book called The Truth About God, Jesus Christ and Satan: A New Reflected View of Epochal Dimensions. In the book he wrote that he had prophetic dreams, that he had visited hell for three years, and that he had an "angelic audience" and "angelic fans." The book also included an interpretation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Murder Story

On 9 March 2023, a mass shooting took place at a Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall in the Alsterdorf quarter of Hamburg, Germany. The shooter was identified as 35-year-old Philipp Fusz. He arrived after a service had ended and opened fire, killing six adults and an unborn child, and injuring eight others before killing himself minutes later. Police had received an anonymous letter saying he was angry at Witnesses and his former employer.

A service at the Kingdom Hall had run from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. and was attended in person by 36 people, with others watching online. About 50 people were inside the building when the gunman arrived at around 9:00 p.m. He fired shots outside, then through a ground-floor meeting room window, and then entered the building. Police later said a total of 135 rounds from nine 15-round magazines had been fired during the attack. Officers found an additional 24 magazines at the scene. Amateur footage from a neighbor showed a person entering through a window, followed by gunshots. The first emergency calls were made at 9:04 p.m. First responders arrived at 9:08 p.m. and forced entry one minute later. They pursued the gunman to the second floor, where he committed suicide at 9:11 p.m. A total of 953 police officers were deployed after the attack.

The casualties included four men and two women, aged 33 to 60, and an unborn baby. Eight people were injured, four of them critically. The injured included the mother of the unborn child, who was seven months pregnant. All six people who died were German. Among the injured were six Germans, one Ugandan and one Ukrainian.

The perpetrator was identified as Philipp Fusz, a single man aged 35. He was a former member of the Jehovah's Witnesses and had no previous criminal record. He was not known as an extremist. In 2022 he self-published a book titled The Truth About God, Jesus Christ and Satan: A New Reflected View of Epochal Dimensions. He held a gun permit and permission to keep his P30. In January 2023 police received an anonymous letter saying he had particular anger against religious members or the Jehovah's Witnesses and his former employer. Police interviewed him on 7 February and found no legal reason to cancel the permit or confiscate the gun. Authorities said a political motive was ruled out, and it was unclear whether animosity toward the community was the definitive motive.

On the advice of security authorities, Hamburg congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses began holding services digitally. The Jehovah's Witnesses expressed deep sorrow on their website. A funeral service on 25 March 2023 was attended by up to 4,000 members of the faith community, including relatives, survivors, and representatives from the organization's headquarters. Political and official representatives, including the mayor, were invited. The Catholic and Protestant churches expressed sympathy. On 19 March 2023, an ecumenical memorial service was held in the main Protestant Church of Saint Peter; representatives of Jehovah's Witnesses supported the commemoration but did not take part themselves.