Hamburg Killings Understanding the Root Causes - Harmful Consequences of JW.ORG's Shunning Practices

On the evening of March 9th, 2023, a tragic event occurred at a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Hamburg, Germany. A total of 61 people were in attendance, with 36 present in person and 25 joining online.

According to reports, a 35-year-old man, identified as a former member of the Jehovah's Witnesses, shot 10 times into a vehicle with a lady inside who escaped, unharmed outside the Kingdom Hall. He then entered the building, firing 135 rounds with a backpack full of ammunition. This tragic incident resulted in the deaths of six adults, with eight others sustaining injuries, including the loss of an unborn child.

The police responded to the incident swiftly, arriving eight minutes after the shooting began. The gunman fled upstairs and was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

During a search of the man's apartment, authorities found 15 loaded magazines and four boxes of ammunition, totalling 200 cartridges. Police reported that an anonymous letter received earlier revealed that the man had anger towards the Witnesses and his former employer, although he had no prior criminal record and was not known as an extremist.

TIMESTAMPS / CHAPTERS

Introduction 00:00:00
Breaking Free from the Jehovah’s Witness Faith 00:13:25
My Mother's Involvement with Jehovah's Witnesses 00:17:10
Positive Memories as a Jehovah's Witness 00:20:50
Disfellowshipping and Speaking Out Against Jehovah's Witnesses 00:25:45
Jehovah's Witnesses' Impact on Mental Health and Suicide 00:35:15
Robert de Hek: A Short Life 00:51:00
Life after Suicide and Rickie Charlesworth 00:57:06
Linda Warfield's Struggles with Mental Health, Addiction, and Suicide Attempts 01:11:58
Linda Warfield's Tragic Story of Battling Depression and Addiction 01:17:20
Religious Pressure and Two Lost Lives by Suicide 01:24:45
Coping with Loss and Grief in Disownment from Jehovah's Witnesses 01:32:00
Lack of Mental Health Understanding and Negligence by Jehovah's Witnesses 01:38:22
Leaving a Religious Cult and Finding Closure and Support 01:47:30
Conclusion 01:53:30

EXJW COMMUNITY

The organisation is suggesting that the shooter is somehow connected to the EXJW Community. However, it's important to note that the EXJW community does not condone any acts of violence or terrorism.

Instead, the EXJW community provides a safe space for former members to seek support and healing after leaving a controlling organisation like the Jehovah's Witnesses. In other words, the EXJW community is a platform for individuals to share their experiences and support one another, not a community that promotes violence or terrorism.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

A commemoration event is being organized by several Christian churches to honor the victims of a shooting at a Jehovah's Witnesses meeting in Hamburg. The event will provide comfort to the victims' families and the community, but a representative of Jehovah's Witnesses expressed outrage, stating it cannot replace their own funeral service. Bishop Kirsten Fehrs and Archbishop Stefan Hess expressed condolences and emphasized the importance of standing together and praying across denominations in the face of such a tragic event.

ANTHONY MORRIS

Anthony Morris is a former member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, known for his conservative views and controversial statements. In recent years, rumors have circulated regarding his struggles with alcoholism, although there has been no official confirmation of the reason behind his inappropriate behavior.

RICKY CHARLESWORTH

RE: Facebook Comment “Mr boring d heck” I asked AI to summarise a two hour conversation with Ricky

In summary, the messages from Ricky Charlesworth via text are mostly defensive and insulting in nature, with a few attempts to engage in a discussion about religion. He accuses Danny de Hek of being a coward, nasty, ugly, and a piece of shit.He claims to have a good relationship with his family and a depth of knowledge, particularly from the Bible.He also asserts that Jehovah's Witnesses are the only true religion and that Satan has nothing to do with them. Overall, the messages are confrontational and not constructive.

TRISH KIDD

She lodged a complaint with the courts, stating this was an act of violence and was pursuing a protection order. The outcome was that I agreed not to have any further contact with my mother. As for my blog, my video, and my podcast, I had the perfect right to publicize my experience. I have been shunned by the Jehovah's Witness organization.

THE BLOG

Breaking Free from the Jehovah’s Witness Faith: Coping with Disfellowshipping and Its Consequences https://www.dehek.com/general/personal-development/breaking-free-from-the-jehovahs-witness-faith-coping-with-disfellowshipping-and-its-consequences/