16.04.2026 17:06
The statement of Uğur Mersinli, the detained father of İsa Aras Mersinli, who killed 9 people in Kahramanmaraş and is a 1st Class Police Director and Police Chief Inspector, has been obtained. It was learned that Father Mersinli said he took his son to a shooting range before the massacre and had him practice shooting, and footage from those moments has also emerged.
Testimony has been obtained from Uğur Mersinli, the detained father of İsa Aras Mersinli (14), who killed 9 and injured 20 people in Kahramanmaraş. Uğur Mersinli is a 1st Class Police Chief and Police Chief Inspector.
FOOTAGE OF THOSE MOMENTS EMERGED
It had been determined that Father Mersinli took his son to a shooting range just 2 days before the massacre for shooting practice and advised him, "Don't fire randomly, aim at the target." While the echoes of the incident continue, footage was obtained of Mersinli practicing shooting at the range with his father.
SHOWING HOW TO SHOOT
According to the footage, he is seen at the range with his father, wearing the same black hoodie he used during the massacre. It was determined that Father Mersinli showed his son how to hold the gun and where to aim.
FATHER UĞUR MERSİNLİ'S TESTIMONY
"The testimony of police officer father Uğur Mersinli, who was detained after the incident, has emerged. The detained Uğur Mersinli stated the following in his testimony: 'The guns and ammunition my son İsa Aras used in the incident belong to me. I have 7 licensed firearms for personal carry and two shotguns. These are rifles owned in my name under the legislation. My son İsa Aras took 5 of my guns to the scene. My guns are kept in the bedroom. All the guns and ammunition are inside a locked Maraş safe. The magazines are not kept attached to the guns. When I take the guns on me, I take the guns and magazines from different safes and take them out. The mentioned Maraş safes are self-locking safes. İsa Aras learned how to open the safes, but I don't remember opening my safes in his presence. The safes are constantly locked. On the day of the incident, I don't know how my son İsa Aras opened the safes. My son İsa Aras may have learned how to open the safes from the internet. My son was a very good internet user, he even had his own VPN. He speaks English like a native language, he is a very intelligent child.'
"THEY TOLD ME 'YOUR SON IS VERY INTELLIGENT'"
'My son had typical adolescent and exam problems, stresses. I took my son to psychologist friends in the police force because of this situation, but the psychologists in the police said there was no negative situation and that my son was very intelligent. For about 2 months, I have been taking him to a private specialist psychologist near our house. This psychologist said my son might have problems adapting to society, that he should be followed carefully, and that psychiatric treatment might be needed in the future.'
"HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO THE PSYCHOLOGIST FOR 3 WEEKS"
'He last went to the psychologist 3 weeks ago, but recently he avoided going. Because my son used his computer and mobile phone in English mode and I don't know English, I couldn't track what he was busy with. Although I don't know the name, I often saw him playing war games. When I asked him what he was doing, he wouldn't give me a healthy answer, he would brush it off.'
"I SAW HIM TRYING TO TAKE THE GUN"
'My son İsa had no previous interest in guns, but about 1 month ago he asked me when I would let him shoot, saying his friends were shooting with guns. Again, about a month ago, I came home from work and briefly left the gun on the dresser in the bedroom, I saw my son trying to take the gun and got angry with him.
When I realized he had an interest in guns, I told him about our gun culture. I mentioned that the gun is called "honor". I also told him I would leave him one of the guns when I retired. My intention in this statement was to postpone my son's enthusiasm for the gun.
My son told me that everyone in America can buy guns. I explained to him who can buy and carry guns in our country. My son said his friends were shooting with guns and wanted me to let him shoot with a gun. This conversation might have happened last Thursday or Friday.'
"I SAID SHOOTING IS DONE BY AIMING!"
'I told him that on a sunny day next week I would go to the range to shoot and that I could take him too. Later, this week on Monday, I went to the police range and shot with a gun myself. I also let my son fire a few shots. I showed my son the target across, I said the gun should not be used randomly, shooting is done by aiming. I took a few photos and videos while my son was shooting. My purpose in this was for it to remain as a memory and to dull his enthusiasm. I later sent the photos to my son İsa via WhatsApp. According to what I learned from the police, my son showed these photos to his friends, and his friends were astonished.'"