Teenage Gunman Injures 16 in Turkish School Shooting Before Taking His Own Life
A horrifying attack unfolded at a vocational school in southeastern Turkey on Sunday morning, April 12, leaving 16 people injured. The gunman, identified as a teenage student at the school, reportedly used a pump-action shotgun to carry out the assault before ultimately taking his own life.
Chaos and Escape at Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational School
The incident occurred at the Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in the Siverek district of Sanliurfa. According to multiple local media reports, students were seen jumping from windows in a desperate attempt to escape the violence. Footage shared on social media showed dozens of students fleeing the school premises as the terrifying situation developed.
Initial reports varied on the number of casualties, with some sources indicating seven wounded while others confirmed the higher figure of 16 injured individuals. Sanliurfa Governor Hasan Şıldak later confirmed that 16 people had been injured in the attack, with most of the victims being students.
Security Response and Investigation Details
Armed security forces, police units, and medical crews rushed to the school immediately after receiving alerts about the active shooter situation. Authorities quickly evacuated students from the premises, though it remains unclear whether all those injured were students or if staff members were also among the casualties.
Witnesses described the suspect firing randomly as he walked through the school grounds before entering the main building. According to NTV Sanliurfa correspondent Kadir Celikcan, the suspect had been involved in an argument with another student earlier and returned to the school armed with a weapon.
Gunman Identified as Former Student
Governor Şıldak provided crucial details about the attacker, stating: "The attacker is a former student of our school, born in 2007. The attacker took his own life. We have evacuated the school. The incident is being investigated from all angles."
Early reports had suggested the gunman might have taken hostages before turning the weapon on himself, though these details were later clarified. The suspect, believed to be 17 years old, reportedly used either a hunting rifle or shotgun in the attack.
Authorities had been attempting to persuade the suspect to surrender before discovering he had taken his own life. The investigation into the motives and circumstances surrounding the attack continues as Turkey grapples with another school violence incident.
