GENEVA, Switzerland – A second homicide has taken place in the otherwise quiet community of Collonge-Bellerive in less than two months. This time, an elderly man, 73, was shot and killed in a parking lot on Tuesday 19 May.

According to police records, the victim, a French national, was killed by someone “he knew,” but did not elaborate as to a reason, even though a witness said to the TdG newspaper, that the homicide could be the result of a domestic dispute.

A marital relationship between the victim and the alleged killer however, was not confirmed by police. Furthermore, today Le Matin newspaper said the woman sought by police in connection to the homicide is not the man’s companion.

Students at a nearby school were kept in a cordoned off school until parents arrived at 11:30 (time when they would normally break for lunch.) Classes resumed in the afternoon; psychological help was offered to students and teachers.

This is the second homicide in canton Geneva so far in 2015, and the second one to take place in Collonge-Bellerive.

Previous homicide

The first homicide of 2015, in the canton took place on 3 April also in Collonge-Bellerive.

According to police records, a man from the Valais, 42, who had moved to that municipality with his wife and child just recently, shot his spouse during a domestic dispute at their home in route d’Hermance.

Police say the number of reported cases of domestic violence in canton Geneva is up 9% for a total of 1,566 in 2014. This number includes 400 cases where violence was used, and one murder-suicide.

In 2014, there were three homicides in canton Geneva, three less than in 2013.

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