Solved case · 1972
Also known as Zadar school shooting
The short answer
On 9 October 1972, a 19-year-old student shot two teachers at Zadar Gymnasium in SR Croatia, Yugoslavia; one died at the scene and the other later in hospital. The shooter was convicted and sentenced to 15 years.
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Suggest coverage for this caseOn the morning of 9 October 1972, Milorad Vulinović, a 19-year-old student of Serbian descent, arrived at Zadar Gymnasium (now Vladimir Nazor Gymnasium) in SR Croatia, then part of Yugoslavia, intending to kill his history teacher, Vica Vlatković, aged 43. Using his father's Beretta M70 pistol, Vulinović shot Vlatković. Gojko Matulina, aged 33, the school's sociology teacher, attempted to intervene and deescalate the situation and was also shot. Vlatković died at the scene, while Matulina later died of his wounds at a hospital.
According to accounts, shortly after the shooting a teacher from the school encountered Vulinović on the street and observed him enter a nearby pâtisserie called Jadran, where he ate a cremeschnitte while awaiting arrest.
During police interrogation, Vulinović stated that he hated Vlatković because of his grading practices and teaching style. At trial, he additionally claimed in his defence that Vlatković was a Croatian nationalist — a claim made in the context that the Croatian Spring had occurred the year before, in 1971. Court-appointed psychiatrists evaluated Vulinović and found he had a "psychopathic personality" with "a tendency towards schizoid psychopathy." He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment on Goli otok, reported as the most severe sentence available for young adults under socialist Yugoslav law at the time.
The killings prompted a significant public response in Zadar. On 10 October 1972, a commemoration was held at Zadar's Narodni trg (People's Square). The following day, 11 October 1972, approximately ten thousand people gathered in front of Matulina's home to pay their respects. In the years since, a high school library in Zadar has been named in honor of both Vlatković and Matulina, and two high schools in the city were also named after them.
Two individuals who later gained public prominence are reported to have witnessed the incident as students of Zadar Gymnasium at the time: Momir Bulatović, who later became president of Montenegro, and Šime Vlajki, son of Croatian actress Jelica Vlajki.
The Croatian Spring occurred, referenced during the later trial as context for the defendant's claims about one victim's political views.
Milorad Vulinović shot teachers Vica Vlatković and Gojko Matulina at Zadar Gymnasium; Vlatković died at the scene and Matulina later died at a hospital.
A commemoration was held at Zadar's Narodni trg.
Around ten thousand people gathered in front of Gojko Matulina's home to pay respect.
Victims first. Every legal label is set from public records and court outcomes, not from the prose.
Sociology teacher at Zadar Gymnasium, aged 33, died at a hospital from gunshot wounds.[3]
History teacher at Zadar Gymnasium, aged 43, killed at the scene.[3]
19-year-old student convicted of shooting two teachers; sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment on Goli otok.[3]
From the record
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