Mika Muranen
Encyclopedia
Mika Kalevi Muranen a military conscript
, returned to his barracks in Hamina
from a holiday on Sunday, April 17, 1994, stole an Rk 62
assault rifle from the barracks and fled to his hometown Kotka
.
The next day, still dressed in his uniform, he entered his neighborhood and shot two of his neighbors, Reino Vulkko, 53, and his wife Sirkka, 54, with a crossbow
he had taken from his home.
On April 19 Muranen shot mailman Matti Olli, 45, with the assault rifle. He also shot randomly at nearby houses, escaping into the forest with his dog. During the chase, police shot the dog with a submachine gun, while Muranen returned fire with the assault rifle.
The police chased him for a day before slightly wounding him. After he was arrested he expressed regret that his military service would be terminated.
Muranen was found to be competent to stand trial. Kotka district court sentenced him to life in prison on three counts of murder, eight counts of attempted murder and three counts of attempted manslaughter. He was sent to a prison in Mikkeli
and later transferred to a prison in Laukaa
.
The same year, there was a similar case in Sweden, where army officer Mattias Flink
killed seven people with an Ak 5
.
In 2006, while Muranen was serving his sentence in Laukaa
, he gave an interview to the Finnish crime magazine Alibi
Muranen applied for parole several times: 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011.
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
, returned to his barracks in Hamina
Hamina
Hamina is a town and a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Kymenlaakso region. The town has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is...
from a holiday on Sunday, April 17, 1994, stole an Rk 62
Rk 62
The Rk 62 is an assault rifle manufactured by Valmet and Sako. It is the standard issue infantry weapon of the Finnish Defence Forces....
assault rifle from the barracks and fled to his hometown Kotka
Kotka
Kotka is a town and municipality of Finland. Its former name is Rochensalm.Kotka is located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland at the mouth of Kymi River and it is part of the Kymenlaakso region in southern Finland. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water....
.
The next day, still dressed in his uniform, he entered his neighborhood and shot two of his neighbors, Reino Vulkko, 53, and his wife Sirkka, 54, with a crossbow
Crossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
he had taken from his home.
On April 19 Muranen shot mailman Matti Olli, 45, with the assault rifle. He also shot randomly at nearby houses, escaping into the forest with his dog. During the chase, police shot the dog with a submachine gun, while Muranen returned fire with the assault rifle.
The police chased him for a day before slightly wounding him. After he was arrested he expressed regret that his military service would be terminated.
Muranen was found to be competent to stand trial. Kotka district court sentenced him to life in prison on three counts of murder, eight counts of attempted murder and three counts of attempted manslaughter. He was sent to a prison in Mikkeli
Mikkeli
Mikkeli is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in what used to be the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
and later transferred to a prison in Laukaa
Laukaa
Laukaa is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland, next to Jyväskylä and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
.
The same year, there was a similar case in Sweden, where army officer Mattias Flink
Mattias Flink
Mattias Flink is a Swedish spree killer who killed seven people on June 11, 1994, in Falun, Sweden. He was at the time a fänrik in the Swedish Army.-Early years:...
killed seven people with an Ak 5
Ak 5
The Ak 5 is the Swedish version of the FN FNC assault rifle with certain modifications, mostly to adapt the weapon to the Swedish climate. The Ak 5 is the service rifle of the Swedish Armed Forces. Ak 5 is an abbreviation of automatkarbin 5...
.
In 2006, while Muranen was serving his sentence in Laukaa
Laukaa
Laukaa is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland, next to Jyväskylä and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, he gave an interview to the Finnish crime magazine Alibi
Muranen applied for parole several times: 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011.