Germany gunman "had depression"

The German teenage gunman who killed 15 people on Wednesday shot one of his victims at a psychiatric clinic where he was to be treated for depression. Tim Kretschmer was treated at another clinic in nearby Weissenhoff between April and September before his care was transferred to the center in Winnenden. Germany gunman "had depression" But, he never resumed the outpatient therapy sessions, investigators said. Police have meanwhile been looking into the authenticity of an internet warning said to have been posted by Kretschmer. A police spokesman, Klaus Hinderer, said a search of the 17-year-old's computer had found no evidence that he had made the posting. Prosecutors said they were trying to reach the U.S.-based provider of the chatroom site where the warning reportedly appeared. In it, Kretschmer, who killed 12 people at Albertville secondary school in Winnenden and three in the nearby town of Wendlingen before taking his own life, purportedly bragged about his plans. "Proof of illness" After shooting dead nine students and three teachers at his former school on Wednesday morning, Kretschmer walked across the road towards the psychiatric clinic opposite and killed a man, thought to be a gardener. On Thursday, Stuttgart district prosecutor Siegfried Mahler revealed that the teenager was supposed to undergo treatment for depression there. He said Kretschmer had attended five sessions between April and September last year at a clinic in the town of Weissenhoff, and was expected to continue outpatient therapy in Winnenden, but broke off the treatment. "At the physical examination for the army, he provided proof of an illness that required a psychiatric treatment," Mahler told a news conference. Under German law, all men are obliged to serve nine months either in the military, which they can refuse, or do civilian service. Officials said Kretschmer fired more than 100 shots during Wednesday's attack on his former school. Germany's Bild newspaper reported students as saying he had gone into one classroom three times, asking: "Aren't you all dead?" Hans-Dieter Wagner, police director for the Esslingen area, said that after the shootings at the school and clinic, commandeered a car, held a gun to the head of a hostage and asked him: "Should I have fun and pick off some more drivers?" He went on to kill an employee and a customer at a car showroom in Wendlingen. Officials say he still had more than 130 rounds of ammunition left when he was cornered by police and shot himself.

Germany gunman "had depression"

But, he never resumed the outpatient therapy sessions, investigators said.

Police have meanwhile been looking into the authenticity of an internet warning said to have been posted by Kretschmer.

A police spokesman, Klaus Hinderer, said a search of the 17-year-old's computer had found no evidence that he had made the posting.

Prosecutors said they were trying to reach the U.S.-based provider of the chatroom site where the warning reportedly appeared.

In it, Kretschmer, who killed 12 people at Albertville secondary school in Winnenden and three in the nearby town of Wendlingen before taking his own life, purportedly bragged about his plans.

"Proof of illness"

After shooting dead nine students and three teachers at his former school on Wednesday morning, Kretschmer walked across the road towards the psychiatric clinic opposite and killed a man, thought to be a gardener.

On Thursday, Stuttgart district prosecutor Siegfried Mahler revealed that the teenager was supposed to undergo treatment for depression there.

He said Kretschmer had attended five sessions between April and September last year at a clinic in the town of Weissenhoff, and was expected to continue outpatient therapy in Winnenden, but broke off the treatment.

"At the physical examination for the army, he provided proof of an illness that required a psychiatric treatment," Mahler told a news conference.

Under German law, all men are obliged to serve nine months either in the military, which they can refuse, or do civilian service.

Officials said Kretschmer fired more than 100 shots during Wednesday's attack on his former school.

Germany's Bild newspaper reported students as saying he had gone into one classroom three times, asking: "Aren't you all dead?"

Hans-Dieter Wagner, police director for the Esslingen area, said that after the shootings at the school and clinic, commandeered a car, held a gun to the head of a hostage and asked him: "Should I have fun and pick off some more drivers?"

He went on to kill an employee and a customer at a car showroom in Wendlingen.

Officials say he still had more than 130 rounds of ammunition left when he was cornered by police and shot himself.