Michel Van Wijnendaele

Michel Van Wijnendaele (c. 1959 – May 12, 1987) was a Belgian mass murderer who killed seven people in Bogaarden, Belgium on May 12, 1987. He also wounded three others, before committing suicide.[1][2]

Michel Van Wijnendaele
Born
Michel Van Wijnendaele

ca. 1959
DiedMay 12, 1987 (aged 27–28)
Sirault, Belgium
Cause of deathSuicide
OccupationUnemployed
Details
DateMay 12, 1987
2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Location(s)Bogaarden & Denderwindeke, Belgium
Killed8 (including himself)
Injured3
Weapons.22-caliber rifle

Shooting

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At approximately 2:00 p.m., Van Wijnendaele, armed with a .22-caliber rifle, entered a farm in Bogaarden, where he shot dead Jean Baptiste and Margriet Nechelput, their daughter, Liliane De Crem, her husband, Edgard, as well as their son, Christian, and also wounded another son of the De Crem's with a shot in the stomach after a short scuffle. At a neighbouring farm he killed a woman and her son, apparently because they had witnessed the shooting, and then fled the scene in his car. While police set up roadblocks to capture the gunman, he made his way to Denderwindeke, where he shot and wounded his parents-in-law three or four hours later.

Van Wijnendaele was eventually spotted by police in Brugelette, as he was filling his car at a gas station. A car chase ensued that ended at about 7:00 p.m. when the 28-year-old was cornered by police in Sirault, near Mons, whereupon he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

Victims

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  • Jean Baptiste Nechelput, 90
  • Margriet Nechelput, 84, wife of Jean Baptiste Nechelput
  • Liliane De Crem, 46, daughter of Jean Baptiste and Margriet Nechelput
  • Edgard De Crem, 54, husband of Liliane De Crem
  • Christian De Crem, 20, son of Liliane and Edgar De Crem
  • Marie-Thérèse Walraevens, 37
  • Ludovic Derycke, 3, son of Marie-Thérèse Walraevens

References

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  1. ^ Gunman Kills 7 in Belgium, The New York Times (May 13, 1987)
  2. ^ Amok: Sieben Tote und dann Selbstmord, Hamburger Abendblatt (May 13, 1987)
  3. ^ Gunman kills himself after Belgian massacre, The Times (May 13, 1987)
  4. ^ Unemployed Man Kills Seven, Then Himself, Associated Press (May 12, 1987)
  5. ^ Gunman on the rampage kills seven, The Glasgow Herald (May 13, 1987)
  6. ^ Man pleegt zelfmoord na dooden zeven mensen, Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant (May 13, 1987)
  7. ^ Belg schiet zeven mensen dood en pleegt zelfmoord, Leidsch Dagblad (May 13, 1987)
  8. ^ Bogaarden (Pepingen), De Standaard (July 27, 2006)