When tragedy strikes, communities come together, united in their grief and sorrow, and honoring the lives lost. That was certainly the case among the Czech people on February 14th, 2021, when fourteen innocent lives were taken in a mass shooting at the University of Ostrava, in the city of Ostrava.
The fourteen victims included a promising student athlete, a volunteer firefighter, several top academics, and an elderly man. The City of Ostrava declared a period of national mourning after the heinous crime, and the families of the deceased have been receiving an outpouring of support from the Czech community.
The alleged shooter, a twenty-two year old man with a criminal record, was apprehended by police at the scene of the crime and is now being held by authorities while evidence is collected and a trail date sets. Citizens of the city are left with feelings of shock, anger and sorrow, but are thankful to the security services for their swift response.
Among the fourteen victims was eighteen-year-old Ondrej Patek, a promising student and track and field footballer, who was tragically taken during his first year of studies at the university. His parents were at the school during the shooting and are among the witnesses.
Tibor Baulič, the city mayor, declared a period of mourning after the tragedy and asked the city to observe a minute of silence in commemoration of the victims. Many local organizations, businesses, schools and prominent Czech people have shown their support, including the Czech Prime Minister, who ordered that flags be lowered to half-mast as a sign of remembrance.
As authorities work to investigate the case, the city of Ostrava and the Czech people as a whole are struggling with their loss and remain in mourning. The victims of this heinous tragedy will be remembered and honored for their achievements and contributions to the community, and the families of the deceased can rest assured that their loved ones will never be forgotten.