Police say a Russian national suspected of shooting dead three Montenegrins at a firing range killed himself after being located in a wooded area in Herceg Novi.
Montenegro police officer. Photo illustration: EPA/Boris Pejovic.
A Russian citizen suspected of killing three people at a shooting range in Danilovgrad, central Montenegro shot himself dead on Tuesday after opening fire on police when he was found near the coastal town of Herceg Novi, authorities said.
The victims, killed by the Russian national on Monday, have been identified as Podgorica residents Nemanja Kapor, 20, and Petar Globarevic, 24, and Danilovgrad resident Momir Radonjic, 67.
Police identified the suspect as 30-year-old Russian citizen Mikhail Nikolaevich Shabunin.
Police Director Lazar Scepanovic said on Tuesday
Police Director Lazar Scepanovic said on Tuesday that officers had located Shabunin in a wooded area above the Topla neighborhood of the coastal town of Herceg Novi.
“After the suspect was surrounded and found himself in a hopeless situation, he opened fire in the direction of police officers and then committed suicide using a firearm,” Scepanovic said.
Police said Shabunin had visited the Ceska Zbrojevka shooting range in Danilovgrad in the days before the killings.
He carried out a test shooting
“He carried out a test shooting at the range, entered the building and committed the killings,” Scepanovic said. “After that, he drove away in one of the victims’ vehicles.”
Police later found the vehicle that Shabunin allegedly used to leave the crime scene in Rogami, near Podgorica. They believed Shabunin later travelled by taxi from Podgorica toward Herceg Novi.
Scepanovic had described the suspect as dangerous and said he had taken a firearm and ammunition with him after the killings.
The Ceska Zbrojevka shooting club told state broadcaster
The Ceska Zbrojevka shooting club told state broadcaster RTCG that the three victims were its employees and had been at work without weapons and without the possibility of defending themselves.
Police initially urged residents to remain indoors while the suspect was at large and warned people to avoid contact with unknown persons and report any suspicious behaviour.
Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive or provided further details about the circumstances leading up to the killings.
Police officers are continuing their activities in cooperation
“Police officers are continuing their activities in cooperation with the Higher State Prosecutor’s Office in Podgorica to establish all the circumstances of the incident, including its cause and motive, and to fully clarify the entire situation,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic expressed condolences to the victims’ families. He said September 1 and 2 would be declared days of mourning in Montenegro.
Source: balkaninsight.com
