Vinko Palić was born in 1964 in the village of Zrinski Topolovac, located in what is now Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Croatia. He grew up in the local community and later became one of several brothers in a large family. Details of his early childhood and education remain limited in public records.

As a young adult, Palić enlisted in the Croatian Army and served as a soldier in the 105th Brigade during the Croatian War of Independence. His service placed him on the frontline during a period of intense fighting and instability. According to post-incident investigations, Palić returned home from the war approximately two weeks before the events of January 1993.

Following his return, Palić reportedly suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Authorities were aware of his psychological condition prior to the shooting, but no effective intervention occurred. In the village, Palić had a reputation for extreme behavior when intoxicated. Witnesses later described incidents in which he discharged his automatic rifle at random and engaged in dangerous self-harm behaviors while drunk. These episodes stood in contrast to his sober demeanor, during which he was described as polite, calm, and well-mannered.

Despite his unstable behavior, Palić retained access to military-grade firearms. After his death, investigators also discovered an additional unregistered weapon in his home, raising questions about oversight and weapon control during the wartime period.

In the early hours of 1 January 1993, a mass shooting unfolded in Zrinski Topolovac during a New Year’s Eve celebration held at the local clergy house. The gathering was attended by approximately 40 people, including villagers, friends, and family members.

Shortly after midnight, an argument broke out between Vinko Palić and another man over a woman. Witnesses reported that Palić became visibly agitated and left the party. He returned to his home, where he changed into a military uniform, armed himself with an automatic rifle, and then went back to the celebration.

Upon his return, Palić opened fire on the guests. During the initial stage of the attack, he killed eight people, including the man he had argued with, the woman involved in the dispute, and his own brother. Several others were seriously wounded. Survivors later described the attack as sudden and chaotic, with little opportunity to escape.

After leaving the clergy house, Palić traveled to the home of one of the deceased women. There, he shouted at the occupants, reportedly saying: “Look and see what I did to your children.” He then continued moving through the village while armed.

Police were alerted, and responding officers attempted to intervene. During this confrontation, Palić killed one police officer who was on duty and wounded another, bringing the death toll to nine. The shooting spree continued for approximately two hours.

Throughout the attack, Palić displayed selective restraint. When encountering the local priest, he deliberately spared him, stating: “You, I won’t. You’re a priest.”

One of Palić’s brothers, Zlatko, attempted to stop him and pleaded with him to stand down. Palić threatened him in response, telling him to flee or he would be killed. Another brother, Nikola, had already been fatally shot earlier in the violence. Evidence suggested that Nikola had attempted to intervene and prevent further killings.

As special police forces approached the area, Palić recognized that he was about to be apprehended. He lay down on the road and shot himself in the head, ending the attack. He died at the scene.