The death of René Steegmans (January 1, 1980 – October 24, 2002) was a violent crime which occurred in Venlo, Netherlands, on October 22, 2002, which drew national attention for being an act of senseless violence.
Steegmans addressed two youths for driving recklessly past an old lady on their scooter.
Eighteen-year-old Khalid Lakhlifi and Sylvio Richters then attacked Steegmans, kicking and beating him several times.
Steegmans was hospitalised with brain damage at the Radboud Medical Centre in Nijmegen, where he died a day later.
[4] The violent death of René Steegmans, combined with the Moroccan, Muslim background of the perpetrators, caused a national discussion on integration,[5][6][7] and senseless violence.