Five Killed in German Hostage Standoff

A 53-year-old heavily armed man shot and killed four people before turning the gun on himself in a hostage drama in the southern German city of Karlsruhe, reports Der Spiegel. The shooter’s girlfriend was apparently being evicted Wednesday and the man shot the court bailiff and locksmith, as well as the new owner of the apartment, who had happened to ring the doorbell. He also apparently shot his girlfriend.

The woman had apparently fallen behind on payments and the home was sold at auction. A bailiff, locksmith, and social worker showed up Wednesday morning to evict her, reports the Associated Press. The social worker was eventually let go and he informed the police of the shootings, but when they managed to make it inside the apartment everyone was already dead.