Man sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for attempted murder in Lahti shopping centre parking lot

A 51-year-old man has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for attempted murder and firearms offences after shooting a victim in broad daylight at a shopping centre car park in Lahti, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The Päijät-Häme District Court ruled that the defendant drove up to the victim in the parking area of Möysä shopping centre on 31 October 2025, exited his vehicle with a pistol in hand or pocket, and fired four shots at close range. At least three of the shots were directed at the victim, two of which struck him—one in the lower abdomen and one in the left thigh—causing life-threatening injuries. The victim survived due to timely medical intervention.

Prosecutors argued that the defendant had clearly intended to kill the victim. In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the man to pay €15,000 in compensation, including interest, for pain and suffering. The ruling is not yet final and may be appealed to the Court of Appeal.

The shooting occurred in the middle of the day in an area frequented by bystanders. The defendant has been in custody since November 2025.