The 2015 Uherský Brod Restaurant Shooting

On February 24, 2015, lunchtime at the Družba restaurant in Uherský Brod became the scene of one of the deadliest shootings in modern Czech history. Eight diners — seven men and one woman, reported as aged 27 to 66 — were killed. Another woman was seriously wounded. The gunman remained inside during a police response and ultimately shot himself.

The attack

Contemporary Czech reporting and the later police review identify the perpetrator as Zdeněk Kovář, a 63-year-old resident of Uherský Brod. He entered the restaurant carrying firearms and began shooting at people inside. Witnesses escaped where they could, while at least one survivor hid during the prolonged emergency response.

The attack was not treated as terrorism. Officials instead described an individual act. Investigators later concluded that Kovář was the sole perpetrator.

Eight people killed, one seriously wounded

The final investigative account recorded eight people killed in the restaurant: seven men and one woman. A second woman survived serious gunshot injuries. Crime by Region does not reproduce unnecessary graphic details or speculate about individual victims beyond what the public record establishes.

Investigation and the question of motive

Prosecutors and police examined whether anyone had helped, encouraged or directed the gunman. By April 2015, investigators had interviewed hundreds of witnesses and were reconstructing the sequence using forensic evidence and timing records. The final conclusion was that he acted alone.

The record contains discussion of long-term frustration, health concerns, family and neighborhood conflict, and a psychiatric assessment. Those factors are context, not a license to reduce the killings to a single simplistic motive. This page therefore distinguishes the final investigative finding — one identified perpetrator — from broader interpretations of why he acted.

Why there was no criminal trial

Kovář died by suicide at the scene. Because the identified perpetrator was dead, prosecutors could not bring a homicide case to trial. Police eventually closed the criminal investigation on that basis. The status is therefore Solved / Identified, not “adjudicated”: responsibility was established by the completed investigation, but there was no conviction.

Review of the police response

The tragedy also prompted scrutiny of the emergency response. An internal police review identified mistakes by operational officers, including coordination and communication problems. Later, the General Inspection of Security Forces concluded that police officers had not committed a criminal offense in connection with the response, although it identified deficiencies and tactical lessons.

The review also found no police wrongdoing in the issuance of the gunman’s firearms license. These findings concern institutional response and licensing; they do not shift responsibility for the killings away from the perpetrator.

Timeline

1. February 24, 2015
   Shooting at the Družba restaurant

   Zdeněk Kovář opens fire inside the restaurant in Uherský Brod. Eight people are killed and another woman is seriously wounded.

2. February 24, 2015
   Gunman dies at the scene

   During the police response, Kovář dies by suicide, eliminating the possibility of a criminal trial.

3. March–April 2015
   Forensic reconstruction and witness interviews

   Investigators reconstruct the attack, examine whether anyone assisted the gunman and interview hundreds of witnesses.

4. May 2015
   Operational officers disciplined

   Two officers receive disciplinary sanctions after an internal review of elements of the police response.

5. August 2015
   Investigation closed

   Authorities conclude that Kovář acted alone. The case is shelved procedurally because the perpetrator is dead.

6. August 2015
   GIBS review

   The security-forces inspectorate finds no criminal offense by responding police, while identifying several deficiencies and recommendations.

Current status

Solved / identified. Czech investigators concluded that Zdeněk Kovář was the sole gunman. He died by suicide at the scene, so the case ended without prosecution or a homicide judgment.