Perpetrator entrenched himself

Man shot and critically injured

This is where the bloodshed occurred.(Bild: Bernd Hofmeister)

A 67-year-old man was killed by several shots in Feldkirch-Gisingen (Vorarlberg) on Thursday evening. A 45-year-old man from Oberland is considered an urgent suspect.

According to the "Krone" newspaper, the suspect had barricaded himself in a house in Batschuns (Feldkirch district). It was suspected that the man was in the underground garage of the block of flats. 

Shortly after 8 p.m., the Cobra task force found the gunman dead in his home, the regional police headquarters announced at around 9 p.m. The circumstances of the discovery indicated a suicide, it said.

Investigations are in full swing
According to the police, the fatal shots were fired at the victim's home at around 5.15 pm. A large contingent of police and emergency services were deployed. It was initially reported that the man shot had suffered life-threatening injuries.

A nationwide manhunt was subsequently launched for the suspect, which was lifted at around 6 pm.

Background still unclear
Further investigations were taken over by the Vorarlberg State Office of Criminal Investigation. The course of events and the motive for the crime are the subject of the investigation. Results are expected in the course of the next few days.

If you or a person close to you are in an exceptional psychological situation or are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact the telephone helpline on 142. You can find further crisis telephones and emergency numbers HERE.