The prominent Dutch crime reporter Peter R de Vries, who was shot and seriously wounded in central Amsterdam nine days ago, has died. “Peter fought to the end, but was unable to win the battle,” a statement from his relatives said. The 64-year-old was shot in the head minutes after leaving a TV studio.
The shooting shocked the Netherlands, where Mr de Vries was well-known for his investigations of mobsters and drug lords. While the motive for De Vries’ shooting remains unknown, the July 6 attack on an Amsterdam street had the hallmarks of the gangland hits taking place with increasing regularity in the Dutch underworld the journalist covered. Two suspects have been detained. Dutch police said the suspected shooter is a 21-year-old Dutchman, and a 35-year-old Polish man living in the Netherlands is accused of driving the getaway car. They were arrested not long after De Vries was wounded. De Vries rose rapidly from a young cub reporter to become the Netherlands’ best-known journalist. He was a pillar of support for families of slain or missing children, a campaigner against injustice and a thorn in the side of gangsters.
De Vries had been fighting for his life in an Amsterdam hospital since the attack. The statement said he died surrounded by loved ones and requested privacy for De Vries’ family and partner “to process his death in peace.” Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.
