The mother Isabell after the murder of Mikael in Skärholmen

An 18-year-old who is suspected of having shot dead Mikael, 39, in front of his son in Skärholmen was arrested yesterday.
Mikael’s ex-partner Isabell now says that she feels a great relief.
– At the same time, it is a reminder of how our society has failed, she writes.

Father Mikael cycled with his son to the swimming pool in Skärholmen on April 10. In an underpass, he told a youth gang – and was shot in the head in response.

The police have previously managed to arrest several people for various crimes connected to the shooting death. On Wednesday, the first suspect for the murder itself, an 18-year-old man, was arrested.

“Mikael’s potential killer has been arrested and we feel a great sense of relief. At the same time, it is a reminder of how our society has failed to deal with this properly in the first place, so that this did not have to happen. Such horrors must not be born here, and we must do a complete turnaround in our thinking so that there will be a change now and in the future,” writes Isabell, who is the mother of Mikael’s son, in a comment.

“We must stop turning a blind eye”

The arrested suspected murderer was 17 years old at the time of the crime and has been the subject of social authorities for several years. Several reports of concern from both the school and the police have been made about the teenager and he has, among other things, been taken into care to be placed in a HVB home. He has been suspected of several crimes since an early age, but was so young that he could not be prosecuted.

“We have to ask ourselves what measures have been missing and why we have let it go this far. It is clear that our efforts so far have not been sufficient. Change is necessary now. We can no longer wait for something to happen,” writes Isabell further.

The mother hopes that the murder of Mikael will lead to more efforts from the authorities.

“These young people need positive role models and mentors who can guide them on the right path and start building confidence. The more we hate and exclude these youth, the more hatred will grow within them. It goes without saying – they’re already outcasts, so they might as well continue down that path. As I said before, hate begets hate.”