A Swedish court has sentenced a 15-year-old boy to three years in youth custody for murdering a small business owner in Uppsala. The victim, a 52-year-old father who worked at a restaurant in the Boländerna district, noticed movement outside his window and went to investigate. He was shot multiple times just outside the entrance and died hours later.
Police arrested the teenager just 13 minutes after the initial alert. The suspect had fled the scene on an electric scooter before jumping into the Fyris River in an attempt to escape. Officers apprehended him in the water, ending his brief flight.
Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting this was a contract killing. Chat messages revealed discussions about a payment of 200,000 Swedish kronor for the murder. The teenage defendant claimed he felt coerced into committing the crime. He told investigators that an unidentified person directed him by phone during the attack.
The alleged handler reportedly instructed him after the first shot, 'You must finish him, otherwise everything you have done is unnecessary. Think if he survives.' The teenager responded by firing a final shot to the victim's head, later stating, 'I had no other choice.'
Following the shooting, the boy disposed of the murder weapon and a hand grenade in the Fyris River. Police divers recovered these items months later during their investigation. The court also convicted the teenager for two separate explosive attacks in the Stockholm area involving grenades and a thermos bomb.
Another 17-year-old received a three-and-a-half-year youth custody sentence for assisting the murder and involving a minor in criminal activity. The court convicted one additional teenager for failing to report the planned murder while acquitting two others of similar charges.
This case highlights serious concerns about organized crime recruiting minors in Sweden. Youth involvement in contract killings represents an alarming trend in Nordic criminal networks. The relatively short sentences reflect Sweden's focus on rehabilitation for young offenders, but many question whether this approach adequately addresses violent youth crime.
Uppsala residents express growing concern about gang violence affecting their community. The murder occurred in a commercial area frequented by families, raising questions about public safety. Local business owners report increased vigilance following the incident.
Sweden's youth custody system aims to rehabilitate rather than punish young offenders. However, cases involving premeditated murder test the limits of this approach. The court must balance societal protection with giving young people opportunities for reform.
Police continue investigating the unidentified person who allegedly ordered the killing. The failure to locate this individual leaves open questions about whether the sentence addresses the full scope of criminal responsibility in this case.