CETINJE: A 45-year-old man unleashed a deadly shooting spree in the small southern Montenegrin town of Cetinje, killing 12 people, including two children, before succumbing to his injuries in what authorities suspect was a suicide attempt. The incident, which occurred early Thursday local time, is the country's deadliest massacre to date.
According to Thai News Agency, the assailant, identified as Aleksandr Ako Martinovic, initiated the rampage following a dispute at a local restaurant on Wednesday afternoon. After an initial altercation with another patron, Martinovic returned to the establishment armed and began shooting, claiming four lives. He then proceeded to kill eight more individuals in three separate incidents before being confronted by police near his residence.
Authorities revealed that Martinovic had a history of illegal weapons possession and was heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident. The police emphasized that the shooting was not gang-related. In addition to the fatalities, four other people were injured, with one in critical condition.
The tragic event marks the second mass shooting in Cetinje in recent years, following a 2022 incident where a gunman killed 10 individuals, including two children, before being shot dead.