Police families deeply affected by shooting: ‘This situation is so extreme’

Families of police officers in North Jutland are struggling after last week’s shooting in Nørresundby, where a 62-year-old man was killed, according to the chair of the North Jutland Police Association.

Police initially responded to a report of a fire at an auto paint shop in Nørresundby. The call escalated into a shooting when officers arrived and were met with gunfire, hitting one officer, said Poul Buus, chair of the North Jutland Police Association.

“I can’t recall a similar incident in the past 30 years,” Buus said. “Normally, officers know what task awaits them. Here, it came completely out of nowhere.”

The officer wounded in the shooting was a traffic officer unaccustomed to such operations, Buus said. The officer believed he was responding to assist with traffic guidance at the fire before the situation turned violent.

The incident has also deeply affected the families of the officers called to the scene, Buus said. “Families are realizing that even if an officer isn’t usually part of this kind of operation, something extremely serious can still happen.”

Police remain present in Nørresundby to investigate the shooting. Affected officers are receiving psychological support to process the trauma, and authorities are working to assist family members, though capacity is limited.

A 48-year-old man is in custody, charged with killing the 62-year-old victim and with aggravated violence against the wounded officer. Police have not yet disclosed the suspect’s motive or details about the fire that prompted the initial call.