Residents of Weiteveen can meet today in the Catholic church of Weiteveen on the Zusterweg. The Immanuel parish wants to give villagers a place where they can talk to each other or comfort each other, according to Pastor Bernard Buit, the initiator.
Buit decided to take action after the tragedy that happened yesterday morning on the Bargerweg in Weiteveen. A village resident, Richard K., probably shot two other residents after a protracted conflict over the sale of a home.
“Yesterday I went into the village and you notice how such a big impact this event has had on everyone,” Buit explains. “We therefore thought it would be a good idea to open the church. People can meet each other there, tell their story or light a candle. Praying is also allowed, of course. It’s just what everyone wants. But the possibilities are there.”
The church is open between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Announcements have been distributed via the Dorpsbelangen Facebook pages and the church itself. Village chairman Henry Schepers calls the action a good idea. “There will certainly be people who feel the need to share things.” According to Schepers, there was also a brief consultation as to whether anything should be done by Dorpsbelangen and the municipality of Emmen itself. “But what are you supposed to do, a silent journey? I don’t think that’s the intention, that’s not going to happen.”
According to village chairman Schepers, this also has to do with the nature of the case. “There is a lot of support and sympathy for the suspect within the village. On the other hand, there are two deaths and children who have lost their parents. It is very ambiguous, so you have to be careful when organizing something.” It may still happen, but only in consultation with the municipality. “We’re not going to do that on our own.”
Schepers further reported that the children of the suspect and his partner as well as the children of the victims have now been taken care of elsewhere. “How to proceed with the children is up to the authorities.”