A Norwegian man in his 60s died Thursday during a bird hunting trip in Arjeplog, Norrbotten, Sweden. Swedish police have detained another Norwegian man, also in his 60s, who was part of the same hunting party, according to reports from nrk.no.
Investigation into the Arjeplog shooting
While initial reports indicated the police were investigating the case as murder or gross negligent homicide, authorities adjusted the charge following interrogations on Friday afternoon.
Moa Ejnestrand told SVT that the charge has been downgraded to negligent homicide. "After the interrogation, I have decided to downgrade the charge to negligent homicide, a serious offense, as there is no evidence that it was done with intent," Ejnestrand stated.
Defense claims of a hunting misunderstanding
The suspect remains in custody but denies criminal guilt, according to his defense attorney, Mattias Jaldeby. This misunderstanding allegedly resulted in the deceased being in the wrong position when the accident occurred.
Swedish authorities lead forensic investigation into death
The investigation is being led by Swedish authorities, with support from technical teams examining the scene. Lisa Svelander, a press officer for the Norwegian National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos), confirmed to nrk.no that the case is being handled by the Swedish police.
According to TV 2, authorities have not yet fully clarified the circumstances surrounding the death. The area remained cordoned off on Friday while forensic experts conducted their investigation.
Frequently asked questions about the incident
What is the current legal status of the suspect? The suspect is currently held in custody, though the initial suspicion of murder has been dropped.
Are there known witnesses to the shooting?
There are no eyewitnesses to the actual incident, according to VG. The investigation relies on the suspect’s testimony and ongoing forensic analysis of the scene in Arjeplog.
What specific details remain unknown?
Authorities have not confirmed the total number of people involved in the hunting party or the exact sequence of events that led to the shooting. As nrk.no reported, the police continue to investigate the circumstances as they work to piece together the events of Thursday afternoon.
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