Funeral Set for Victim of Czech Office Shooting; Mayor Recounts Harrowing Escape
Table of Contents
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Church of St. Jiří in Chřibská na Děčínsk for Libor Cicvárek, a city employee who died after being caught in a shooting on Monday. The attack, which left six others injured, has prompted calls for increased vigilance and a renewed focus on community safety.
Heroism Amidst the Chaos
The mayor of Chřibská, Jan Machač, was also shot during the incident but is currently recovering in the hospital and remains in contact with city employees working to restore operations. According to the mayor, Cicvárek acted with extraordinary bravery, attempting to assist him immediately after he was struck by gunfire. “When I was shot twice in front of the office building, Libor immediately tried to help me up the stairs and into the entrance hall,” Machač stated.
The situation rapidly escalated when the attacker, a 39-year-old with a prior criminal record, began firing indiscriminately from the window of his apartment and then moved towards the office building. “Initially, I decided to meet the shooter, but he moved from the window of his apartment to the square towards the office and started shooting like a madman,” Machač recounted. Police estimate the attacker discharged approximately 100 rounds during the rampage.
Barricading for Safety
As the shooting unfolded, Cicvárek, along with Deputy Mayor Jaromír Nepovím, took decisive action to protect others. They barricaded the entrance to the offices, creating a temporary safe zone. Machač, bleeding from his wounds, sought refuge in the boiler room with another office worker. “There we passed the worst moments of this rampage,” he wrote in a statement.
The attacker, who possessed four illegally held weapons at the time of the shooting and two more were discovered at his home, ultimately turned the weapon on himself. Authorities are continuing to investigate the motive behind the attack, which appears to have been rooted in personal issues directed towards an individual employed at the city office.
Calls for Increased Vigilance and Community Policing
In the wake of the tragedy, Machač emphasized the importance of community awareness and reporting potentially concerning behavior. “After this experience, we clearly see that we cannot be indifferent to the behavior of some of our fellow citizens,” he said. “Then, if necessary, bring a clear testimony about the maladaptive person who could in any way threaten us in a common and decent coexistence.”
The city is actively working to reopen the office and restore normalcy. Machač stressed the need to move forward, stating, “We have to move on, get back on our feet, continue to work, plan and create things with even greater attention and emphasis on safety.” The reinstatement of city police officers, a decision made prior to the shooting, is expected to bolster security and prevent future incidents.
The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and community support in safeguarding public safety.
