The police were called to Drottninggatan in central Gävle at half past four in the morning after several people called in and testified about loud bangs.
On the spot, the police were able to determine that it was a shooting.
A total of three people were injured in connection with the incident. One of them, a 25-year-old man, was found to have a gunshot wound and received life-saving measures on the spot before being taken to hospital by ambulance.
Later on Sunday, the police announced that the man died in hospital. The injuries of the other two, also 25-year-old men, are not considered life-threatening.
– The now deceased man was hit with several shots. The other two there were hit, one in the arm and one in the leg, says Mattias Rutegård.
Known to the police from before
All three men are already known to the police. The police do not want to go into more detail about who the intended target was.
– We can only establish that it is a person who was hit with several shots.
The shots are fired from a few meters away.
– It happens from close range, the street is not wide and suspected perpetrators stand in the middle of the street and plaintiffs are at the edge, says Mattias Rutegård.
“You don’t feel well”
The incident took place outdoors on a street in central Gävle where several nightclubs and restaurants are located.
– It has taken place outside a premises, but if it is connected to the fact that the person has been in this premises, I cannot judge, says police spokesperson Mattias Rutegård.
Several people have witnessed parts of the course of events and the police are also probing for cameras that may have captured the shooting.
Two of those who are very badly affected are the 80-year-olds Lola Fernlund and Håkan Håkansson.
– It’s terrible. From having been mostly to the south, now it’s coming up here too, says Håkan Håkansson.
– You don’t feel well. It’s nasty. We hadn’t hoped it would come here, says Lola Fernlund.
No arrests
No one has been arrested and according to the police, one or more suspected perpetrators ran from the scene after the shots were fired.
– There are several people running from the scene, then we do not yet have a clear picture if it is one or more perpetrators, says Rutegård.
Several witnesses and people who are interesting in various ways to the investigation have been accompanied to the police station to be interviewed.
Suspects are now being hunted and the police are stopping and searching cars in central Gävle.
– Right now we are in the hunting phase, there is a large resource at the site and it is about technical investigation, securing evidence, hearing witnesses. It is an intensive investigation phase and it is an ongoing reconnaissance mission, says Mattias Rutegård.
Looking for tips
The police are investigating the incident as a murder. A woman who works in the area and wishes to remain anonymous says she was shocked when she woke up and heard what had happened.
– It is very scary that something like this happens here. That people walk around with guns and such.
This is how she describes a vigilance the next day.
– You kind of trip on your toes.
