The shooting at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, has sent shockwaves across the nation. A gunman shot dead fourteen people on March 22nd, 2021, in what is one of the deadliest mass shootings in Czech history. Among the victims were promising athletes, volunteer firefighters, renowned academics, and many others.
Vladimír Motl was a 16-year-old student athlete who was killed in the mass shooting. He was a promising soccer player and Karate competitor who had dreams of one day playing professionally.
Matej Bazrla, a volunteer firefighter of five years, was another helpless victim in the mass shooting. At 24 years old, Matej was in the prime of his life and had become a role model for many people in the community. Through hard work, Matej had become an influential volunteer firefighter, leading teams and responding to disasters.
Dr. David Karban was a renowned professor in philosophy and literature, and was known for his work on the humanistic approach to life. He was one of the oldest victims in the mass shooting, and his death has left a void in the academic community.
The Czechs have gone into mourning, with symbols and memorials being left on the University grounds in honour of the victims. The shooting has shocked the nation and serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health awareness. The fourteen lives that were tragically cut short due to this senseless act will never be forgotten.
