The 79-year-old grandmother was found dead with slits on her throat by police before noon on Tuesday inside her Müllrose home. Officers suspected her 24-year-old grandson, who was seen by witnesses fleeing in the victim's car.
Officers launched a major search effort to find him, including the use of helicopters. Witnesses also told police that the grandson had a girlfriend in Bavaria, and therefore access roads to the Autobahn were blocked off.
During his getaway, the grandson was seen by witnesses in nearby Beeskow, where his attempt to escape resulted in at least three traffic accidents damaging some cars. It is not yet clear whether anyone was injured.
Two officers then tried to stop him with an improvised bed of nails, but instead he evaded the obstacle and ran over the officers who were standing in the adjacent bike lane.
The officers died at the scene due to the severity of their injuries.
The young man was only able to flee a bit further before police stopped and arrested him. According to Tagesspiegel, he crashed the car shortly before being caught and continued to try to escape on foot. Upon his arrest, he had to receive medical treatment due to his injuries.
Police spokeswoman Bärbel Cotte-Weiß said that, so far, authorities do not know the motive behind the crime.
Police would not release further information, but are to give a press conference later in the day with more details.
According to Tagesspiegel information, the grandson was a drug user and was already known as a violent criminal.
Brandenburg police wrote on Twitter that they were “deeply affected” by the loss of their two colleagues.
Wir sind zutiefst betroffenen! Zwei Polizeibeamte wurden von dem flüchtenden Pkw erfasst und tödlich verletzt.
— Polizei Brandenburg (@PolizeiBB) February 28, 2017
“I am shocked. My condolences are with the relatives,” said Brandenburg Minister-President Dietmar Woidke.