Son of a bitch. It finally happened.

Over the weekend, I read this horrible news story about a daycare killing in Belgium where a crazed man with a painted face walked into the nursery and started attacking the children there. Two kids and one staff member were killed, while ten other children and two adults were injured.

Today many European newspapers are reporting further information suggesting that the killer was inspired by Heath Ledger's Joker.

The police have not uncovered a motive yet, but suggested that the attack was timed with the anniversary of Heath Ledger's death (Ledger died January 22nd of last year, the attack was on the 23rd). I don't know, but it does sound like this 20-year-old psycho is trying to be the Joker:

He is described as a film buff and a loner (never a good combo, apparently) by the people who knew him.

He painted his face white with black circles around his eyes, just like Ledger's Joker. He also dyed his long greasy hair red. Maybe his local supermarket was out of green dye?

He walked into the daycare center with a 12-inch knife quoting a line from The Dark Knight ("I have one question,"Joker's line when he crashed Harvey Dent's fundraiser) and then escaped on his bicycle.

When the police caught him hours later, he was calm and cooperative. They found a set of knives, an axe and a toy gun on his persons. They also found a note with the address of two other daycare centers.



He refused to say anything during interrogation, instead laughing at grinning at the cops.

They found no prior criminal records or any history of mental illness.

You know, you can't get any worse than brutally killing innocent children for no reason, but to do so as a tribute to an internationally beloved actor who died tragically? That's just asking for... I don't even know.

Police have taken Mr. Joker to a secure location away from the town where it happened, in fear of another psycho dressing up as Batman and challenging him to a fight. Well, no, not really, but they are worried about vigilante actions, given the emotional and high-profile nature of the murders.

I don't know if this would affect The Dark Knight in any way (doubtful), but Dutch mag Menzo has been forced to change their Heath Ledger tribute issue's cover from Joker to normal-Heath due to the sensitivity of the case.