Husband shoots ex-partner on the street: Lower Saxony shakes!

Husband shoots ex-partner on the street: Lower Saxony shakes!

It is a tragic event that turns our idea of ​​security on its head. On June 23, 2025, at 12:15 p.m., several shots were fired on the street in Osnabrück. A 41-year-old man shot his 43-year-old ex-partner in front of a residential building on Windhorststrasse in the Schinkel district. The woman died at the scene, while the alleged perpetrator injured himself and was then taken to a clinic, where he was declared brain dead. This terrible act not only shocked those left behind, but also galvanized the community.

The incident is classified as femicide because the woman was killed because of her gender. There has recently been a worrying increase in femicides in Lower Saxony, many of them perpetrated by partners or ex-partners. Less than a month earlier, three women were murdered within a week and the perpetrators were arrested and accused of murder. The investigation into this tragic incident is already in full swing. A murder squad was set up to shed light on all the backgrounds and to clarify whether there had been any attacks in the past or whether there was a ban on contact with the perpetrator.

Investigations are in full swing

The police have seized the murder weapon and are now investigating the circumstances of the crime. The question of whether third parties knew about the perpetrator's murder plans or were even involved in the preparation of the crime is particularly important. Given that both parties leave behind three children, the case is also very relevant from a social perspective. The children no longer lived with their parents, which made the situation even more difficult.

Femicides in the focus of society

These horrific incidents shed light on widespread violence against women. According to a dark field study by the Federal Criminal Police Office, over 46,000 people were questioned about crimes. It is worrying to note that 6% of women aged 16 and over had to experience criminally relevant sexual offenses in the past year. Attributions like these illustrate the need for action in our society to better protect women. Only a fraction of crimes are actually reported, especially in the area of ​​sexual violence. Women against violence makes it clear that the number of unreported cases is high.

The case in Osnabrück is a shocking reminder to all of us that the problem of violence against women is not just an individual problem, but a societal one that urgently requires our attention and action. Numerous cases of this type have already been registered in Lower Saxony and the authorities are under pressure to take immediate action. Every femicide is a warning – and a call to action.