12-year-old 'Child Soldier' Suspected of Murder in Malmö – Was a Mistaken Shooting

A twelve-year-old boy is suspected of carrying out a contract killing in Oxie, Malmö, where a 21-year-old man was shot to death in a car. Police believe the shooter targeted the wrong person. The boy, who comes from another region, is said to have been recruited by criminal networks and, due to his young age, faces no criminal consequences—a growing phenomenon where minors are used as ‘child soldiers’ in gang violence.

On the evening of Friday, December 12, an Audi with several people inside was fired upon in Oxie, southern Malmö. Several shots were reportedly fired, likely from another vehicle, and at least one bullet hit the 21-year-old man in the backseat. His friends then drove into Hindby in central Malmö, abandoned the car, and had another person alert the police.

Shot the Wrong Person

The man who was shot was taken to the hospital but died shortly thereafter. According to reports, the shooter most likely targeted the wrong person—the actual intended victim was believed to be another passenger in the car. The offenses are classified as murder and three counts of attempted murder.

Police quickly apprehended a suspected shooter: a twelve-year-old boy from another part of the country, who reportedly traveled to Malmö specifically to carry out the act. He is now in the care of social services, and an investigation under Section 31 of the Young Offenders Act (LUL 31) has begun to clarify his role and the need for interventions.

Twelve-Year-Old Perpetrator Causes Shock

None of the experts Sydsvenskan spoke with is aware of any previous case where someone so young has been suspected of carrying out a murder.

– I am not aware of any completed murder with such a young suspect, says Manne Gerell, Associate Professor of Criminology, to the newspaper.

The Malmö police express great concern about the development.

– It is frightening, where are we headed? How can such young people even be used? says Rasem Chebil, operational head of the Investigation Section with Malmö police.

Chebil notes that perpetrators are becoming increasingly younger, especially in grenade attacks, and points to social media as an important recruitment channel.

Minors as ‘Child Soldiers’ in Gang Crime

In recent years, criminal networks have increasingly recruited very young individuals for serious acts of violence, such as shootings and bombings. The recruitment often happens via social media in a process similar to grooming—first lured with promises of large sums of money, but quickly turning to threats and heavy pressure.

Many of the youths believe their families risk being harmed if they refuse to carry out assignments. The phenomenon has become so widespread that minors are often described as ‘child soldiers’ in gang conflicts. Several arrests have been made of young perpetrators for attempted murders and bombings, but a twelve-year-old suspected shooter in a completed murder is without known precedent.

No Criminal Penalty—Only Social Interventions

Since the boy is twelve, he is well below the age of criminal responsibility, which is 15, and cannot be sentenced to any form of imprisonment. Instead, the case is handled by social services, which makes a comprehensive assessment of needs and risks. Factors considered include whether the young person was threatened or lured, their attitude toward the crime and the adult world, and the guardians’ ability to provide support.

Depending on the assessment, placement may occur at a secure SiS institution, an open residential care home (HVB), or, in some cases, relocation of the entire family due to threats. The Tidö government, at the initiative of the Sweden Democrats, plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 as part of efforts to confront this development.