A 29-year-old man from Denderleeuw was killed in the shooting. According to the public prosecutor’s office, the shooting was probably the work of several perpetrators. The other perpetrators are still being tracked down.
The shooting took place on Saturday night around 11:50 PM in Steylsstraat in Laeken. At the scene, the police found 29-year-old Gael M. who was seriously injured and unconscious. The victim died at 12:20 am after first responders tried in vain to resuscitate him.
No stranger to the court
The Brussels public prosecutor’s office immediately opened a judicial investigation for manslaughter. The first suspect was quickly arrested in that investigation. The 26-year-old man was suspected of manslaughter and carrying a weapon requiring a permit, without a prior permit, and was placed under an arrest warrant. The Brussels council chamber extended this pre-trial detention by one month on Friday.
The victim was no stranger to justice. Gael M. had already been convicted several times, including for violent theft of a watch, drug offenses and invoice fraud. The man is also said to have had rent arrears of 6,000 euros. According to his family, quoted by various media, the man was killed over a dispute over 1,000 euros. However, it is not yet clear what the motive for the shooting was.
Tags: Suspect fatal shooting Laken remains pretrial detention
