Brother and relative of father who killed his 3 children in İzmir speak out: 'Our blood ran cold when we heard'
Kasım Şimşek, the brother of Vesim Şimşek—who killed 3 of his 4 children, injured 1, and then attempted suicide in İzmir—and Mustafa Karataş, a distant relative of the victims, have made statements.
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In an olive grove in a mountainous area of İzmir, a man named Vesim Şimşek brought his children Hiranur (11), Cemre (4), Ceylin (2), and Nira Şimşek (14) to the grove, located 2 kilometers from their home, yesterday morning.
Afterward, Şimşek shot his 4 children with a handgun he had with him, stated that he would also commit suicide, and reported their location before attempting to take his own life.
FUNERALS TAKEN TO MANISA
Upon notification, health and police teams were dispatched to the scene. Medical teams determined that Cemre, Ceylin, and Nira had lost their lives. Vesim Şimşek and Hiranur Şimşek, who were seriously injured, were taken to the hospital by ambulance.
It was reported that the treatment of the injured, whose lives remain in danger, is ongoing. The bodies were taken to the morgue of the forensic medicine institution. Following the procedures, the bodies were received from the morgue by the mother's side of the family and taken to the Salihli district of Manisa to be laid to rest.
HAD A RECENT ACCIDENT
It was learned that Vesim Şimşek was in the process of divorcing his wife, Naciye Şimşek, and had been calling her to ask to get back together, but received a negative response each time.
It was also stated that Vesim Şimşek worked as a laborer at a chemical factory. It was noted that Şimşek, who had lost vision in his left eye due to an accident at his workplace some time ago, was on paid leave and that the company had been supporting his treatment.
It was also recorded that Vesim Şimşek's primary profession was construction work.
HE DID NOT LET GO OF THE WIFE HE WANTED TO RECONCILE WITH
Vesim Şimşek's brother, Kasım Şimşek, a married construction worker and father of 9, said they are still in shock over the incident. Brother Şimşek said, "Vesim's relationship with his children was good; he loved them very much. He also loved his wife. However, they had been separated for 3 months. His wife had returned to her father's house. Vesim called her to return home, but when she didn't, he must have had a mental breakdown. We never expected something like this to happen."
'OUR BLOOD RAN COLD WHEN WE HEARD'
Mustafa Karataş, a distant relative of the victims, stated that his brother had encountered Vesim Şimşek on the road on the morning of the incident, saying, "My brother, Şefik Karataş, saw Vesim at a pastry shop around 06:00 on the day of the incident while going to work. When my brother asked how he was, he said, 'I'm fine, uncle, I bought pastries for the children. Now I'm going home to feed them,' those were his last words. He was cheerful. There was no sign that he would commit such an act. About 2 hours later, the incident happened. Our blood ran cold when we heard," he said.
Karataş also said that Vesim Şimşek had been diagnosed with lung cancer 2 months ago and was undergoing treatment.