Salzburg Resident Faces Murder Charge After Fatal Shooting of Suspected Burglar

A 66-year-old man in Salzburg is facing a murder charge following the fatal shooting of a suspected burglar during a break-in incident that occurred in July 2025. Authorities in Salzburg announced that the evidence gathered during the investigation suggests the homeowner did not act in self-defense at the time of the shooting.

The incident unfolded in the Gnigl district, where a 31-year-old Hungarian national and his partner allegedly entered the residential property by cutting through a wire fence and accessing the house via the garden and terrace. The pair reportedly gathered valuables from the property, removed some of the stolen items, and then returned to the house to collect more.

As the couple attempted to re-enter the property, they were confronted by the returning homeowner. During this encounter, the homeowner shot the male suspect, resulting in his death. The suspect was struck by a bullet in the back of the head from a distance of over nine meters as he was fleeing the property, according to official investigative findings.

The accused homeowner, who has no prior criminal record, has been in pre-trial detention since October 2025. Prosecutors determined that, contrary to the homeowner's statements, the shooting did not occur in a situation that would legally justify the use of lethal force for self-defense. The legal assessment is based on the position of the victim at the time of the shooting and the lack of immediate threat posed to the homeowner.

During police questioning, the homeowner claimed he had been threatened with a knife by the intruder and fired his handgun in self-defense. However, prosecutors stated that the forensic and circumstantial evidence indicates the intruder was already attempting to escape when the fatal shot was fired. The defense attorney maintains that his client believed he was acting in legitimate self-defense or was mistaken about the necessity to defend himself.

The court has not yet scheduled a trial date. If convicted, the accused could face a prison sentence ranging from ten to twenty years, or potentially a life sentence, under Austrian law.

Further complicating the case, the accused attempted to reclaim his firearm from local authorities after it had been confiscated as part of an ongoing investigation. Despite being subject to a provisional weapons ban, he argued that he required the firearm for protection against future break-ins. This action contributed to the decision to keep him in custody due to concerns about potential future offenses.

The female accomplice, aged 30, who was apprehended at the scene, was previously sentenced by the Salzburg Regional Court to 15 months in prison, with two months to be served unconditionally. She is believed to have relocated to Salzburg during the summer of 2025 and participated in at least two burglaries, as well as the theft of an e-scooter and a bank card, alongside her partner.

The case continues to draw public attention amid ongoing discussions about self-defense laws and the legal boundaries of property protection in Austria. Authorities emphasize that the investigation was thorough and that the evidence supports the decision to pursue a murder charge rather than lesser offenses.