A gunman in Montenegro fatally shot at least 12 people, including two children, before taking his own life as police closed in, officials confirmed Thursday.
At least four others were injured during the shooting rampage in the western town of Cetinje on Wednesday, which authorities say began after a bar brawl.
Why It Matters
Montenegro, a small Balkan nation with a population of approximately 620,000, has a deeply rooted gun culture, where it is common for people to own weapons.
Wednesday's shooting marked the second mass shooting in Cetinje, Montenegro's former capital, in just three years. In August 2022, an attacker killed 10 people, including two children, before being fatally shot by a passerby in the same town.
The latest tragedy has reignited painful memories and left the country grappling with the senseless loss of life, with senior politicians expressing their shock and horror.
What to Know
The shooter, identified as 45-year-old Aco Martinović, killed the owner of a bar he had visited that day, the owner's children, and members of his own family during the rampage, according to Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović.
Martinović fled the scene and police launched an intensive search for the shooter. Special units were deployed, and roads leading in and out of Cetinje were sealed off while officers conducted a sweeping search through the streets.
Martinović was eventually located and surrounded by police. He died after shooting himself in the head, Šaranović said.
Šaranović later confirmed that Martinović died from his injuries while en route to a hospital in Podgorica. "He died from the severity of his injuries," Šaranović said, describing the tragic conclusion to a rampage that has left the nation in shock.
Police Commissioner Lazar Šćepanović revealed that Martinović had been at the bar throughout the day with other patrons when a brawl broke out. Following the altercation, Martinović reportedly went home, retrieved a weapon, and returned to the bar around 5:30 p.m., where he began his deadly rampage.
Šćepanović disclosed that Martinović had a history of violent behavior, which included a suspended sentence in 2005. He had also recently appealed a conviction for illegal weapons possession. Montenegrin media reported that Martinović was known for erratic and violent tendencies, further highlighting concerns about his potential for dangerous escalation.
What People Are Saying
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić called the attack a "terrible tragedy," reflecting the profound shock and grief felt across the nation.
Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović underscored the severity of the violence, saying, "The level of rage and brutality shows that sometimes such people … are even more dangerous than members of organized criminal gangs."
Police Commissioner Lazar Šćepanović said "He killed four people at the bar before heading out," adding that Martinović continued his shooting spree at three additional locations, leaving a trail of devastation in his wake.
President Jakov Milatović expressed his devastation over the latest tragedy. "I am shocked and stunned by the loss of innocent lives," he said in a statement posted on X. "Instead of holiday joy … we have been gripped by sadness over this senseless violence."
What Happens Next
The Montenegrin government has declared three days of national mourning beginning Thursday in the wake of the devastating shooting.
The recurring violence in Cetinje has left residents shaken as they grapple to understand the reasons behind the killing spree, raising urgent questions about the need for measures to address gun violence in the small Balkan nation.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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