Belgrade, Serbia – The tragic events of May 3, 2023, shook the nation as a horrific school shooting took the lives of 10 individuals, including eight children and a school guard. The incident, unprecedented in Serbia, left many in disbelief as they struggled to come to terms with the senseless violence that had unfolded within the walls of the Vladislav Ribnikar school in central Belgrade.
Among the victims was 11-year-old Ana Bozovic, whose mother, Ninela Radicevic, continues to grapple with the unimaginable loss of her daughter. Radicevic, a 49-year-old clinical researcher, has been leading efforts to preserve the memory of all those lost in the tragedy, pushing for meaningful change to prevent such atrocities from happening again.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Serbia faced a period of introspection, with many grappling with the reality of the violence that had swept through their communities. The government responded by launching a gun crackdown, collecting tens of thousands of weapons and rounds of ammunition in an effort to enhance security measures in schools.
Despite these actions, the wounds left by the shooting are far from healed. The slain children’s parents have called for greater accountability and awareness, organizing protests and remembrance events to honor the victims and demand justice for the lives lost.
As Serbia approaches the grim anniversary of the shooting, questions linger about the nation’s capacity to address the underlying issues that contributed to such a tragedy. While some believe that progress has been made in terms of activism and awareness, others argue that a deeper examination of the country’s history of violence is needed to truly move forward.
For Radicevic and others who lost loved ones on that fateful day, the quest for justice and remembrance serves as a constant reminder of the need for change. As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the shooting, the voices of those affected continue to push for a more compassionate and secure future for all.