Police: Espoo Mall Shooting Probably Premeditated

Investigations continue into the fatal shooting of five people in Espoo on New Year’s Eve. Police now believe the victims had been selected in advance by the suspect, Ibrahim Shkupolli.

The National Bureau of Investigation(NBI) has clarified the movements of the suspect inside the mall but officers want further details on the movements of a red Volkswagen Golf car seen in the area on Thursday
Ibrahim Shkupolli, a Kosovo Albanian, shot and killed four people at the Sello shopping mall on Thursday. He also shot his ex-girlfriend at her home in Espoo. At the end of his shooting spree, he then turned the gun on himself.
Police say Shkupolli first shot two male employees on the first floor of the mall before killing two sales persons, a man and a woman, on the second floor. Prior to an autopsy on Saturday, investigators remain uncertain as to whether the fifth killing took place before or after his shooting rampage inside the mall.
The names of the victims in the store have not been released at the request of family members. Flags flew at half mast at the mall on New Year's Day and at other shops belonging to the HOK-Elanto retail chain. A moment of silence will be held at stores at noon on Saturday.
Shkupolli had earlier been served with a restraining order extending to the Prisma supermarket. He had earlier threatened staff at the store. Although supermarket guards were aware of the restraining order, those employed by the shopping mall itself remained in the dark as to the danger posed by the suspect.
Motive Remains Unclear
Exact details of Shkupolli’s motive remain unclear. However, leads point to difficulties in the relationship between the suspect and his ex-girlfriend.
The NBI says the method of the attack indicates the victims were probably selected beforehand. NBI Chief Inspector Tero Haapala could not say whether the victims had been threatened with attack in advance.
Haapala confirmed the suspect had applied for Finnish citizenship once but this had been refused. He said the NBI were unaware of any criminal past during his time in Kosovo.
The police say a red Volkswagen Golf had been found in the yard of his home belonging to the suspect’s ex-girlfriend. They called on the public to help them determine whether Shkupolli had used the vehicle on Thursday morning. The car(registration number LGJ-765) was manufactured in 1994.
Anyone with information relating to Shkupolli’s movements on Thursday should contact the NBI on 071 878 6891