At Least 12 Killed in Mass Shooting Across Multiple Locations in Montenegro

At least 12 people, including two children, were killed in a mass shooting that began at a restaurant in the small town of Cetinje, Montenegro, and continued across three different locations. Authorities confirmed that the suspect, 45-year-old Aleksandar Martinovic, died early Thursday after turning the gun on himself during a standoff with police.

The shooting spree started Wednesday night when Martinovic opened fire at a restaurant, killing the owner and his two children, aged 10 and 13. The children’s father was also among the victims. Martinovic then moved through other locations in Cetinje, where he continued the attack.

Police surrounded Martinovic near his home in Cetinje, a town located about 38 km (23.6 miles) west of the capital, Podgorica. According to Montenegro’s police chief, Lazar Scepanovic, when officers ordered Martinovic to surrender and "lay down his weapon," he shot himself in the head. Attempts to transport him to a nearby hospital were unsuccessful, as he succumbed to his injuries during the journey.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic described the tragedy as an event that "shrouded our country in black." He announced that Montenegro would observe three days of national mourning and said that the National Security Council would consider all options, including a potential ban on firearm possession.

Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic revealed that Martinovic was believed to have been intoxicated during the attack, and that he had a history of illegal weapons possession. He also had a previous violent behavior conviction in 2005, for which he received a suspended sentence. Four people who were seriously injured in the attack remain in critical condition in a hospital in Podgorica.

The shooting is the second mass shooting to occur in Cetinje in just three years. In August 2022, an attacker killed 10 people, including two children, before being shot and killed by a passerby.

Montenegro, with a population of just over 620,000, has a strong gun culture, with many citizens traditionally owning firearms. The country also struggles with organized crime and corruption, issues that authorities have pledged to address under pressure from the European Union, which Montenegro aspires to join. #desitdown #news #globalnews #12killed #mass #shooting #Montenegro #suspect #killed #AleksandarMartinovic,

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