Austria: Roland Drexler found dead

Roland Drexler, 56, shot dead the mayor and a former police officer in Austria.
After a massive police manhunt, he has now been found dead.
Police state that the 56-year-old is suspected of having a list of 48 other victims.

Last week, hunter Roland Drexler, 56, shot several people in the Austrian town of Kirchberg ob der Donau, near the German border. At least two people died, one of whom was a local mayor, who was reportedly shot in a meadow.

The police in Austria released the name and picture of the suspect who was said to be “very dangerous”.

– Unfortunately, we assume that the wanted perpetrator is carrying the weapon, police spokesperson Ulrike Handlbauer told Oberösterreichische Nachrichten.

A massive search operation was launched with 250 police, helicopters and special forces for Drexler, who immediately after the murders fled his home in Upper Austria.

For almost a week, there was an intensive police hunt for the 56-year-old.

On Saturday afternoon, Roland Drexler was found dead in a wooded area, according to Today. Austrian police suspect he took his own life.

Police have previously said that Drexler was in an argument about hunting rights – but why it escalated is currently unclear.

The mayor tried to escape – was shot in a meadow

Mayor Hofer, 64, was reportedly shot as he left his home on his way to a doctor’s appointment. Drexler wounded him first with a shot. When he then tried to escape across a meadow, the 56-year-old pulled out a hunting rifle and shot him dead, according to reports.

Hofer had been mayor since 2008 and was also responsible for the local hunt.

Thirty minutes later, Drexler allegedly went to the home of former police officer and father of four Joseph Hartl and killed him with a single shot. Hartl had just returned home from the hospital where he had been in a coma following a heart attack. He too was involved in the local hunt.

Both men have previously reported Drexler for violating hunting laws and illegal trapping, according to local reports.

Police believe Drexler had a list of 48 other victims he planned to kill.

t4-general