Timothy Kretschmer

17-year-old Timothy Kretschmer killed 16 people in Winnenden, Germany, on March 11, 2009. The gunman killed 13 people at a local high school, two passersby and one person at a nearby clinic. Kretschmer died during a shootout with police and police believe he shot himself. Ten students and three teachers were killed during the shooting at the high school. He wore a black combat suit and a gas mask during the shootings.Evening Standard: Boy kills 15 in school slaughter in Germany (March 11, 2009) Daily Mail: Police gun down ex-student, 17, who massacred 16 people (March 11, 2009)

As he was making his getaway from the school, Kretschmer hijacked a car driven by Igor Wolf. According to Wolf, Westchester's considered continuing his violent rampage at a second school, explaining that he was committing the murders "for fun." Wolf said he wanted to stop the car but was afraid Krestchmer would start shooting at random on the public street, killing nearby women and children.BBC News: German teenager 'killed for fun' (March 18, 2009)

Kretschmer was on the loose for about three and a half hour after the shootings. When the police found him, it resulted in a shootout with police where two bystanders were killed. He shot himself to death during the shootout.Evening Standard: Boy kills 15 in school slaughter in Germany (March 11, 2009) Daily Mail: Police gun down ex-student, 17, who massacred 16 people (March 11, 2009)

Kretschmer was a former student at the school, but flunked out before graduating. During the shooting, he first opened fire at the class in which he used to be a student.Daily Mail: Police gun down ex-student, 17, who massacred 16 people (March 11, 2009) Kretschmer had attended psychiatric sessions, but stopped attending in September 2008. One of his victims was an employee at the mental clinic he used to visit.The Guardian: Police treat Germany school killer chatroom 'warning' as possible hoax (March 12, 2009) His parents reportedly had several licensed firearms in their home, and media reported that he used one of those weapons during the shooting. His father belongs to a gun club.Spiegal Online: German Teenager Shot Dead by Police After Killing 15 People (March 11, 2009)

Kretschmer reportedly had a discussion with another user in an Internet chat room a few hours before the attack. Police say the discussion might have been a hoax and is investigating the incident.The Guardian: Police treat Germany school killer chatroom 'warning' as possible hoax (March 12, 2009) Kretschmer reportedly said "he'd had enough" and that everyone laughed at him and failed to recognize his potential. He was also reported to have said: "I have got a weapon here and tomorrow I am going to go to my former school and give them hell... You'll hear from me tomorrow morning. Just notice the name of the place, Winnenden. Don't say anything to the police."CNN: German killer's warning: I'm going to give them hell (March 12, 2009)