A Thursday afternoon confrontation in Sint-Truiden left two men injured and a 52-year-old suspect in custody following a shooting in the Spoorwegstraat. The incident, which unfolded around 1:40 p.m., drew a heavy police presence to the residential street, which remained cordoned off by authorities as investigators processed the scene.
The Sequence of the Spoorwegstraat Incident
Witness Jeffrey Detant, who happened to be in the immediate vicinity when the violence began, reported hearing urgent shouts of “stop, stop!” before encountering a chaotic scene. According to Detant, he observed two men facing a third individual who was armed with a handgun. The armed man fired a shot toward the others, triggering an immediate physical response from the two men, whom Detant identified as a father and son.
As the pair attempted to neutralize the shooter, the armed man continued to discharge his weapon in multiple directions. Detant described hearing a total of three gunshots during the struggle. The confrontation ended when the father and son successfully pinned the shooter, holding the firearm against his chest to prevent further movement. Police arrived approximately ten minutes later to secure the scene and disarm the suspect.
Prosecutor Investigates Shooting That Injured Son and Suspect
The aftermath of the struggle revealed that the 27-year-old son had sustained a gunshot wound; he collapsed shortly after the suspect was subdued. He was treated on-site by emergency medical personnel and subsequently transported to a hospital for further care. The 52-year-old suspect also sustained injuries during the altercation and was taken into custody by police.
The Limburg Public Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed the arrest and the initiation of a formal investigation. Spokesperson Anna Degraen stated that while the suspect is in custody, the precise circumstances and motives behind the shooting remain unclear. Forensic teams, including a ballistics expert, were dispatched to the Spoorwegstraat to examine the scene, where debris and a single shoe were left scattered on the pavement.
Local Impact and Safety Measures
The incident caused significant disruption in the neighborhood, with the entire Spoorwegstraat closed to the public while law enforcement and specialized units conducted their sweep. The Sint-Truiden-Gingelom-Nieuwerkerken police zone mobilized extensive resources, including an ambulance and a MUG-arts (Mobile Urgency Group doctor) to provide immediate triage.
HBVL and Nieuwsblad have both reported that the severity of the 27-year-old victim’s injuries remains unconfirmed as of late Thursday afternoon. Authorities have not yet released details regarding the identity of the suspect or the relationship between the parties involved, citing the active nature of the judicial inquiry.
