Volker Kraemer

Stern

June 13, 1999, in Kosovo, Yugoslavia

Volker Kraemer, 56, a photographer, and Gabriel Gruener, 35, a correspondent, were on assignment in Kosovo for the German magazine Stern. The two journalists and their interpreter, Senol Alit, were returning by car to Macedonia when they encountered sniper fire outside Dulje, 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Pristina. The journalists tried to flee on foot and were hit at long range. Kraemer was killed instantly by a shot to the head; Groener was hit in the abdomen and died in a helicopter while being taken to a hospital in Tetovo, Macedonia. Alit, who was driving the car, was also killed. His body was found lying next to the car.

Medium: Print

Job: Photographer

Beats Covered: War

Gender: Male

Local or Foreign: Foreign

Freelance: No

Type of Death: Crossfire/Combat-Related

Suspected Source of Fire: Paramilitary Group

Related Articles:

• Attacks on the Press 1999: 1999 Death Toll: Listed by Country, March 22, 2000
• Attacks on the Press 1999: Yugoslavia, March 22, 2000
• CPJ Alert: German journalists killed in Kosovo, June 14, 1999