Parents of Serbia'slate school shooter jailed in retrial

The parents of the 13‑year‑old who killed nine people at Vladislav Ribnikar school in Belgrade are now facing prison terms in a retrial.

The son, who fired 66 bullets in a two‑minute attack, was placed in a psychiatric institution. However, the court found his mother negligent and his father guilty of indifference to public safety, sentencing them to two years & ten months and fourteen years & six months, respectively.

Both the defense and prosecutor have appealed the verdict. Meanwhile, the case underpins Serbia’s new gun‑control package and tougher laws passed after the May 2023 tragedy.

With the retrial still active, the debate over accountability—both for the parents and the weapons they stored—continues to shape Serbia’s approach to school safety.