Man Charged with Attempted Murder After Shooting at 60-Year-Old's Home Following Online Exposure
The 50-year-old man had contemplated for ten years taking action against the 60-year-old. When he saw the man exposed on the site Dumpen, he decided to act and shot at the 60-year-old's residence.
– The Dumpen exposure was the last straw, he says in court.
The 50-year-old man is charged with attempted murder after shooting at two addresses in Iggesund – a 60-year-old man's and his parents'. This is reported by Hudiksvalls Tidning.
He had long considered doing something against the man. He knew the 60-year-old was convicted of child rape – a child to whom the 50-year-old is closely related.
But it was only when the site Dumpen exposed the 60-year-old as a pedophile that he moved from thought to action.
– The Dumpen exposure was the last thing needed. Then I understood he was still at it, just like before, says the accused man in court according to Hudiksvalls Tidning.
Shot at Parents' House
The crime occurred on April 1. Before that, the man had stolen a weapon and ammunition. He went to the man in Iggesund, under the influence of alcohol and pills.
The purpose, according to himself, was to scare and gain media attention.
– I wanted the public to know who he is. And for him to stop what he's doing, he says in court according to Hudiksvalls Tidning.
Mother: “Hard to Sleep”
On April 4, he shot at the address again and also at the house where the 60-year-old's parents live, both in their 90s. A car was also hit.
The 60-year-old was then registered at the parents' address and states in court that the plan was for him to move there.
The plaintiff's counsel says the incident has led to great anxiety and psychological strain for the family and is seeking compensation for psychological suffering.
During the trial, the mother says she has difficulty sleeping and does not feel safe in the house.
– I can't do anything, I just think and think about the incident, says the mother in court according to Hudiksvalls Tidning.
Accused: The Goal Was to Die
The defendant says during the trial that he thought the house was empty when he shot. He also states that the goal was to be shot by the police and that he had decided to die.
During the trial, the prosecutor has shown chat messages where the 50-year-old writes to acquaintances about his plans to shoot the 60-year-old, something he himself describes as a cry for help.
Criticism of Dumpen
Dumpen is a site that sets traps for adults seeking sexual contact with children. They contact people by pretending to be children. Meetings are arranged, after which the individuals are confronted and information about them is published on Dumpen's site.
The operation is led by Sara Nilsson and Patrik Sjöberg.
Dumpen has been criticized for its method, partly because several of the exposed individuals have taken their own lives and because the stigmatization risks affecting their relatives.