Montenegro Breaking news
A mass shooting in the small town of Cetinje in Montenegro occurred on New Year's Day, January 1, 2025, killing 10 people by a gunman. The suspect, 45-year-old Aleksandar Martinovic, died from self-inflicted injuries later as he tried to commit suicide when police approached him. His death was confirmed by the Interior Minister of Montenegro, Danilo Saranovic.
Shooting Spree Kills 10 by Gunman
The shooting spree by Martinovic started in a restaurant in Cetinje, 38 kilometers west of Montenegro's capital, Podgorica. He reportedly had been drinking heavily earlier in the day, but at about 5:30 p.m. local time, he got into a heated dispute. He went outside, got a weapon from his house, and returned to open fire, killing four people.
It did not stop there, though. Martinovic went further into the town to attack three other locations and killed at least six people, including two children. The police said four others had life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospital.
The Hunt for the Gunman
After the mass shooting, police sent special forces to Cetinje and blocked all roads out of town to prevent Martinovic from escaping. Cornered near his home, he tried to take his own life.
"When he saw that he was in a hopeless situation, he attempted suicide," Interior Minister Saranovic said. Martinovic was alive when police took him to the hospital but died of his injuries on his way there.
Investigation and Public Safety
The police confirmed Martinovic had a history of illegal weapons possession. For his part, Police Director Lazar Scepanovic showed that Martinovic was highly intoxicated by alcohol at the time he shot the victims. Whereas initial investigations have stated the shooting was not linked to organized crime, the motive was not well known.
After the attack, police described Martinovic as dangerous and urged residents to stay in their homes during the manhunt. His shooting spree sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Cetinje as forensic experts studied the scenes of multiple crimes.
A Community in Mourning
This is one of the deadliest shootings to have taken place in Montenegro in recent years, leaving the country in shock. Residents and officials alike have called for reflection on gun control and the dangers of illegal weapon possession.
This tragedy has pointed out the dire need for unrelenting effort in public safety and ways to prevent such violence in the future. As the investigation unfolds, the town of Cetinje mourns the loss of innocent lives.
- "Montenegro mass shooting," "Cetinje gunman," "Montenegro violence," "Montenegro police response."
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