- Title: Doncic to cover funeral costs for Belgrade school shooting victims
- Date: 5th May 2023
- Summary: BELGRADE, SERBIA (MAY 4, 2023) (REUTERS) FLOWERS AND CANDLES IN FRONT OF SCHOOL WHERE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE FLOWERS IN FRONT OF SCHOOL POLICE STANDING VARIOUS OF FLOWERS AND CANDLES IN FRONT OF SCHOOL BOY LIGHTING UP CANDLE AND LEAVING, GIRL CROSSING HERSELF AND LIGHTING UP CANDLE LONG LINE OF YOUNG PEOPLE WAITING TO LAY FLOWERS AND LIGHT UP CANDLES MAN, BOY AND WOMAN LIGHTI
- Embargoed: 19th May 2023 14:01
- Keywords: Basketball Belgrade Dallas Mavericks Luka Doncic NBA Serbia
- Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- Country: Slovenia
- Topics: Basketball,Europe,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA005029005052023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will cover funeral costs for the victims of Wednesday's (May 3) mass school shooting in Belgrade, his National Basketball Association (NBA) team said on Thursday (May 4).
Police said that the suspected shooter, a 13-year-old boy, took two of his father's handguns to kill eight pupils and a security guard at their school in the Serbian capital, marking the nation's first mass school shooting.
"I am heartbroken by the tragic school shooting in Serbia and the loss of lives, including those of innocent children," Doncic said on Twitter.
"I am exploring both immediate and long-term ways to support the students, faculty, and families affected by the shooting."
The Slovenian four-time NBA All-Star, who has family connections to Serbia on his father's side, plans to provide "long-term assistance" to those impacted, a Mavericks spokesman told Reuters.
"I am committed and I will continue to share updates and ways to support as details become available," said Doncic.
It comes as Serbia suffered a second mass shooting in just two days, after eight people were killed and a suspect arrested in what President Aleksandar Vucic on Friday (May 5) called a "terrorist attack".
The Balkan country had just begun three days of mourning for the victims of Wednesday's shootings when news broke of the second incident, which authorities said occurred late on Thursday in the village of Dubona, 42 km (26 miles) south of Belgrade.
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