Police detain 51-year-old suspect after woman shot in Swarzędz near Poznań

The shooting

On Saturday, 15 August, around 15:25, a passerby discovered an unconscious woman with a head wound on the stairwell of a residential building at ulica Wielka Rybacka in Swarzędz, a town just east of Poznań. The passerby immediately notified emergency services. The 46-year-old victim was transported to hospital in a life-threatening condition, where she remained as of Sunday evening. Police spokesperson Sgt. Michał Wiśniowski from the Poznań police press team said preliminary findings indicated the injuries resulted from a gunshot, probably inflicted with a black powder weapon. Medical responders at the scene identified the wound as a gunshot injury to the head.

“The victim in a life-threatening condition was immediately taken to hospital. From the findings so far, the injuries resulted from a gunshot, the perpetrator probably used a black powder weapon for this.”

Her condition was described by police as heavy, and by one outlet as very heavy.

Manhunt

Police launched a large-scale search operation that began Saturday afternoon and continued overnight into Sunday. Wiśniowski described the scope of the operation.

“Operations are being conducted on land, water and from the air, using drones and tracking dogs. At the same time, investigators and forensic technicians are securing traces and clarifying the detailed circumstances of the incident.”

Police knew the identity of the suspect and stated he had known the woman for a longer time. Wiśniowski said there were no indications the man posed a threat to other people. On Saturday, police released no details about the operation, describing it only as a "criminal incident" in Swarzędz. The newspaper Głos Wielkopolski reported on Sunday morning that the victim remained in heavy condition and reminded readers of the police warning that the fleeing man could be armed.

Suspect detained

On Sunday evening, 16 August, shortly before 22:00, Wiśniowski confirmed that the 51-year-old suspect had been located and detained on the territory of Swarzędz. Officers also secured a weapon that may be connected to the case. The manhunt had lasted from Saturday afternoon. The circumstances of the incident and the role of the detained 51-year-old will now be examined in detail by investigators.

Relationship between suspect and victim

Radio Poznań, citing accounts from neighbors, reported that the shooter was likely the woman's former partner, from whom she had separated several months earlier. Police did not officially confirm this account. The same station reported that after firing the shots, the man fled in the direction of Lake Swarzędzkie. Wiśniowski told journalists that the suspect had known the woman for a longer time but did not specify the nature of the relationship.

“The searched man has known this woman for a longer time. There are no indications at this point that he threatens other people.”

Police appealed to residents of the region to exercise caution and to report any information that could assist in the investigation.