Lars Peter Karlsson (17 February 1966 – 11 March 1995) was a Swedish professional ice hockey player. Playing career Karlsson was born in Västerås Lundby, Västmanland. He began his ice hockey career with VIK Västerås HK in the First Division. After five seasons, he then had spells with Surahammars IF and before returning to Västerås for his one and only Elitserien season. He returned to Division One for and Örebro IK. Death Karlsson was murdered by a 19-year-old man who stabbed him using a knife. The killer claimed that Karlsson made a sexual approach towards him. The killer was a 19-year-old White power skinhead who possessed anti-LGBT propaganda in his home. After the murder, Karlsson's team played a protest match in support of him. The killer's sentence, which was eight years, outraged some in the Swedish gay community who thought that the murder occurred because of Karlsson's sexuality. Karlsson was not openly gay and his friends are unsure if he was closeted, or was defamed by his killer. Career statistics See also Gay panic defense List of ice hockey players who died during their playing career References External links 1966 births 1995 deaths Deaths by stabbing in Sweden Male murder victims Örebro IK players People from Västmanland People murdered in Sweden Swedish ice hockey defencemen Swedish murder victims Victims of anti-LGBT hate crimes VIK Västerås HK players Violence against men in Europe