A gunman who went on a killing spree in the town of Cetinje, Montenegro, died from self-inflicted injuries on Thursday after attempting to take his own life as police closed in. Aleksandar Martinovic, 45, opened fire Wednesday afternoon, killing at least 10 people and injuring several others. The rampage started at a local restaurant where Martinovic killed four people. He then went on to other locations in the town, continuing his rampage of violence, which claimed at least six more lives, including two children. Four others remain in critical condition.
According to police, Martinovic was wanted for carrying illegal weapons in the past before being cornered by authorities. It was said that when Martinovic realized that there was no escape, he tried to kill himself, but his injuries caused him to die in transit on his way to the hospital. While police failed to provide many details about the suicide attempt, they did clarify that Martinovic was heavily drunk now of the assault and that before the shooting started, a melee had ensued.
Shock waves spread through this small Balkan country of approximately 605,000 people over a shooting considered a rare phenomenon. Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic announced three days of national mourning, while President Jakov Milatovic expressed condemnation of the tragedy. Despite all the indications and evidence ruled out by authorities against any relation with organized crime, the whole issue points toward a broader culture of guns that permeates the Western Balkans. Weapons have been widespread due to the bloody history of this region during the 1990s’ wars.
The government has vowed to make stricter regulations for the ownership of firearms after this tragic incident, or even completely ban it if necessary.
