Germany: Custodial Battle Turns Deadly in Shelter

Today in the German town of Stade, near Hamburg, a 45-year-old man allegedly went to a shelter for mothers and their children and opened fire, killing 6 workers at the facility. He is allegedly the father of a 3-month-old child who was staying at the shelter with her mother. The motive for the rampage appears to be a custody battle between the mother and father. A custody hearing was scheduled for the same day.

Police responded and fired several shots at a car that was fleeing the scene with the suspect and a female driver. The tires were shot out and both have been taken into custody.  

The article below from Bild is translated by Fousesquawk. We are also working on adding English subtitles to a video of the actual arrest.

6 dead in Stade

It was about custodial rights for a baby!

All dead were employees of the mother-child-home

June 29, 2026 at 20:11

Stade (Lower Saxony)- Bloodbath in a child care facility: Six people died in a shooting in Stade on Monday. Five victims died at the scene, (and) a sixth succumbed to their serious wounds in a hospital in the evening.  According to the police, the background of the act is believed to be a custodial fight over a 3-month-old child. In the evening, investigators gave further details.

Shooting in mother-child home

The scene of the crime is located in a child care facility on Dankerstrasse (street) in Stade (Lower Saxony), which includes mother-child residential groups. All 6 fatalities, according to police, were in the building. Four women and a man died there. Four victims were killed immediately; a fifth died from their injuries in spite of resuscitation efforts. The sixth died later in the hospital. All of the victims were employees of the child care facility.

Police arrested the main perpetrator (45) from the Hannover area. He was born in Germany and is a Turkish citizen. The 45-old is known to police but not as a violent offender. According to the latest information, he does not possess a permit to carry the weapon he used.

According to police, the background for the bloody act is a custody dispute over a 3-month-old child. The 45-year-old main suspect is the father of the infant. On Monday, there was to be a custody hearing. The mother and daughter were staying in the mother-child home, which is also operated by the Hannover Youth Welfare Office.

An eyewitness described to “Focus Online” how a woman, together with a young man, reportedly tried to flee the scene of the crime in a car. A police officer called out: “Halt, stay where you are.” As the car continued to drive off, several officers opened fire. According to witnesses, at least 10-15 shots were fired.

Police question 2 women

Two other women are under police investigation at this time and are being questioned. According to police, one of them is the mother (34) of the child. The (female) driver of the car (65) is also being questioned by police.

City Councilor Carsten Brokelmann stated in the name of the city administration: “I am grateful to the policewomen and policemen for their action in this chaotic situation.” At the same time, he expressed “deep sympathy for the victims of this terrible act as well as their families”. As to the background, at this time, nothing else could be said. He expressed confidence, however, that this would be cleared up soon. 

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (70, CDU) announced on Monday evening: “The news from Stade is deeply shocking. Many people who wanted to help and protect (others) have lost their lives or were injured.” He expressed his condolences to the victims and their families. “I thank the police men and women for their quick action.” 

Information on the deadly crime can be submitted to the following address:

Polizei Niedersachsen Hinweisportal | Polizei Niedersachsen Hinweisportal

Insert: Transparency note:

During the evening press conference, the police initially stated that the perpetrator was a German with Turkish roots, and the woman who drove the getaway car and was being questioned by police was 55 years old. Later, the police corrected the information.

Source: http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2026/06/germany-custodial-battle-turns-deadly.html