Trapped in his home for twelve hours, a grandfather kills his two grandchildren aged 10 and 12 then commits suicide with a gun

Les faits se sont déroulés dans la nuit du dimanche 19 au lundi 20 mai. CAPTURE D'ÉCRAN YOUTUBE

Retranché chez lui durant une douzaine d’heures, un homme âgé de 72 ans a tué ses deux petits-enfants avant de se suicider, ce dimanche 19 mai 2024.

According to sources close to the investigation, the septuagenarian argued with his son-in-law before committing this sordid murder and subsequently committing suicide, reports La Vanguardia.

It all goes back to this Sunday, May 19, in Húetor Tájar in the Granada region of Spain. At around 9:40 p.m., the grandfather locked himself in his house with a weapon and his son-in-law's two sons, aged 10 and 12.

Rather aggressive according to witnesses, he fired two shots into the air, which led to several emergency calls. His son-in-law also alerted the authorities, explaining to them that the man had taken refuge in his house with his two sons.

Entrenched for twelve hours

Two people tried to convince the septuagenarian to release the two children. But he ended up threatening them with death.  During the night, several witnesses indicated that two other gunshots were heard.

During the night several agents as well as a negotiator tried to communicate with the 72-year-old man. At around 5 a.m., he reportedly declared police officers have to dress children for school. Then silence.

At 8 a.m., twelve hours after the individual had taken refuge in his home, an elite group of the Guardia Civil (Special Intervention Unit) , finally enters the house and faces a dramatic scene.

Presented as a "normal” person

According to the first elements of the investigation, one of the miners died of asphyxiation, while his brother was fatally shot. Both were in separate rooms, reports the newspaper La Vanguardia. The grandfather, for his part, also allegedly ended his life using a firearm, in this case a 12 caliber shotgun.

According to the newspaper Ideal de Grenade, the septuagenarian was going through a complicated time after the loss of his wife and his daughter, the mother of the children, died in a car accident in which he was the driver last March. Described as a “normal” person, the septuagenarian could have lost his footing because of this tragedy.