Janne Puhakka, the first openly gay player in Finland’s top-tier ice hockey league, Liiga, was tragically killed in Espoo on Sunday. He was 29. Finnish news outlet Ilta-Sanomat reported that Puhakka was fatally shot in a private residence in the Henttaa neighbourhood.
Western Uusimaa Police responded to the scene around 8pm and arrested 66-year-old Rolf Nordmo, a Norwegian man and reportedly Puhakka’s partner, on suspicion of murder. The authorities have not yet confirmed their identities but said the crime was “brutal and cruel” and indicated evidence of premeditation.
“There are factors that suggest reason to believe the suspect acted with stable deliberation,” said Matti Högman, the officer leading the pre-trial investigation, in a statement to Helsingin Sanomat. He also added that the investigation has elevated the charge from manslaughter to murder. “We have a provisional understanding of the motive, but we won’t be commenting on it yet,” Högman said.
Puhakka made headlines in 2019 when he came out as gay, becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ player in Finland’s professional ice hockey. In his coming-out interview with Helsingin Sanomat, Puhakka said: “I want to be open and honest, so others might not have to live with the same fear I did.”
Puhakka was also participating in the Finnish reality show Petolliset – The Finnish version of The Traitors, which was set to air its final episode this week. Due to the tragedy, the episode has been cancelled.