12-Year-Old Hank Who Died in a Niedernhall Parking Lot: Parents, Coaches, and Police Speak Out

Mourning for Hank (12) after fatal incident in supermarket parking lot. After an argument, a young boy accompanied by a friend was driven to his death. The whole community is shocked and in mourning.

The parking lot of a supermarket in Niedernhall (Baden-Württemberg) is no longer just a place for everyday shopping.

"I live right over there and witnessed everything last night."

Where normally shopping carts and people rush to and fro, there is now silence and sadness. Twelve-year-old Hank died here last Thursday evening. According to current information, he was hit by an 18-year-old driver who is now in custody on suspicion of manslaughter. There is said to have been an argument beforehand.

The news of what happened has deeply shaken the community of around 4,000 inhabitants. At the weekend, the route of a marathon ran through the village. Music and celebrations were deliberately avoided and the mood was one of shock. Mayor Achim Beck explained: "We are deeply shocked and stunned. We can't believe it."

The parents of the deceased child also took part in a church service as part of the marathon, sought comfort in the community and then visited the place where their son died again. They stayed there for several hours in silent mourning. In the days that followed, they returned repeatedly, accompanied by relatives, friends and many people from the neighborhood.

Over the course of the weekend, more and more people came to the scene of the accident to show their sympathy. In addition to family members, acquaintances and completely uninvolved people also turned up to express their sympathy. Flowers, candles and stuffed animals now adorn the site. A pavilion was even erected to protect the memories and the memorial from the rain.

The boy's mother, Vanessa, expressed her grief with moving words: "No one in this world can feel our pain." On this occasion, she handed over a photo of her son and added: "I want the whole world to see this." Her words made it clear how immeasurable the loss is for the family.

The traces of the tragic incident are still visible just a few meters away from the memorial sites. Chalk lines mark the outlines that helped the investigators to reconstruct the course of the accident. The car's skid marks are also clearly visible. Helpers have set up two benches at this spot, protected by a tarpaulin, so that relatives can linger undisturbed.

While the police and public prosecutor's office continue to investigate the circumstances of what happened, the family's focus is on the question of "why". This question remains unanswered, as does the question of how the escalation in the parking lot could have happened.

There has been great sympathy from the local population and the community has shown solidarity with the bereaved. Many people who visit the site remain silent, light candles or speak words of sympathy. The supermarket parking lot, which previously symbolized everyday life, has become a place to pause for thought these days. Internet users were also shocked and expressed their sympathy.

Timmy Sarantoudis, the boy's coach, has also commented on the tragedy. He was the martial arts coach of the 12-year-old who died. He is said to have been a role model child. Always helpful, respectful and friendly. It was also a difficult situation for him. He experienced the whole thing almost first-hand and revealed:

"I live right over there and witnessed everything last night"

He only found out that the child was one of his protégés during the night. Before that, he had witnessed the large-scale deployment of the emergency services.

An interview with a policewoman involved also showed how close such a tragic case is to professional helpers and rescue workers. In an interview , Petra Rutz, the senior detective inspector, was visibly fighting back tears. When asked by a reporter how the boy's mother was doing, she said:

"Sorry, but how is the mother whose child is run over? Does the question need to be answered?"

But what had happened?

As previously reported:

12-year-old run over after argument in supermarket parking lot

A tragic incident occurred in Niedernhall in the Hohenlohe district on Thursday evening. A 12-year-old boy was hit by a car in the parking lot of a supermarket and fatally injured. According to the police, the driver was an 18-year-old who was arrested at the scene.

"Provisionally arrested? He should be deprived of any right to ever see the light of day again!" [sic]

According to the information available so far, the young man and his 16-year-old companion initially got into an argument with two children. The exact cause of the argument is not yet known. After the argument, the children, aged 12 and 13, left the parking lot in Criesbacher Straße on a bicycle and a scooter.

A police spokesperson described what happened next: "When the two boys, aged 12 and 13, left the scene on a bicycle and a scooter, the 18-year-old and his 16-year-old companion allegedly got into the older boy's Audi, followed the children and hit the 12-year-old on his bicycle."

The child fell after the collision and died of his serious injuries at the scene. His companion, who was the same age, remained physically unharmed. The driver of the Audi was immediately arrested by the police at the scene. An arrest warrant was requested for him and he is now to be presented to a magistrate.

The investigation is now being conducted by the Künzelsau Criminal Investigation Department. Numerous witnesses who observed the incident are currently being questioned. It is still unclear whether there was a previous history between the parties involved or whether the argument escalated by chance.

Several eyewitnesses who witnessed the incident are currently being questioned. The police hope that their statements will enable them to reconstruct the course of events more precisely. An expert has already examined the scene and is preparing an expert report that should provide further information.

The news has caused deep shock in the community. Niedernhall's mayor Achim Beck explained: "We are deeply shocked and stunned. We can't believe it and are also at a loss." Numerous residents laid flowers at the scene of the crime to commemorate the deceased boy.

Legally, the 18-year-old is considered an adolescent. In Germany, this age group falls into a special category: the court must decide on a case-by-case basis whether juvenile or adult criminal law should be applied. The decisive factor here is whether the offender's personality still shows typical juvenile traits or whether the offense is more likely to be classified as juvenile in character.

The differences are considerable. Under juvenile criminal law, manslaughter can be punished with a prison sentence of up to ten years, in particularly serious cases up to 15 years. If, on the other hand, the court applies adult criminal law, the sentence is between a minimum of five and a maximum of 15 years.

Apart from the question of the motive for the crime, there has so far been no further information on the extent to which the role of the 16-year-old companion is to be legally assessed. However, there is currently no warrant for his arrest. The public was deeply shocked and upset.

"Everyone so ready for violence. Sick", wrote one user. Other users also expressed their grief and dismay.

One user, however, could not believe how the case had been handled so far. He commented, saying:

"Temporarily detained? He should be stripped of any right to ever see the light of day again!!!" [sic]

A harsh demand that many users apparently agreed with, as the number of likes showed.

Niedernhall itself is a small municipality in the Hohenlohe district, characterized by Franconian culture and with just over 4000 inhabitants. Such an incident is unprecedented in this quiet community, and the shock among the population is correspondingly great. Many hope that the investigation will soon shed more light on the background to the crime.