Eero Hiltunen seeks conditional release after 14 years in prison for Hyvinkää mass shooting
Eero Hiltunen, the 33-year-old convicted of a deadly 2012 mass shooting in Hyvinkää, has submitted a new application for conditional release. Yle reports that Hiltunen filed the request with the Helsinki Court of Appeal on 23 June, demanding an oral hearing and immediate parole.
Hiltunen was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2013 for two murders, seven attempted murders, and endangering others after opening fire from a rooftop in Hyvinkää’s city centre in May 2012. The attack, which targeted random people on the street and in restaurants, left two dead and seven injured, while posing a serious threat to 32 individuals. The District Court of Hyvinkää ruled that Hiltunen was fully aware of his actions at the time.
In his latest application, Hiltunen argues that he has served over 10 years in prison—a threshold for parole consideration for life prisoners sentenced under the age of 21. He also states his willingness to accept supervised probationary freedom. However, the Helsinki Court of Appeal has previously rejected his requests, most recently in 2025, citing the severity of his crimes and insufficient time served.
Ilta-Sanomat notes that the Court of Appeal’s 2025 decision emphasised the gravity of Hiltunen’s actions, stating that there were no mitigating circumstances and that he had not yet served an adequate portion of his sentence. The Criminal Sanctions Agency also opposed his release at the time. Hiltunen had previously applied for parole in 2022 but withdrew the request before a ruling.
Hiltunen committed the shooting at the age of 18 after becoming enraged following a wrestling match with a friend. He later testified that his anger had escalated to include "all people," leading him to retrieve a rifle and open fire indiscriminately. The attack shocked Finland at the time.
No date has been set for the Court of Appeal’s hearing on his latest application.
