A mass shooting in the town of Cetinje, Montenegro, left 12 people dead, including two children, before the attacker succumbed to self-inflicted injuries early Thursday, authorities confirmed.
The shooter, identified as 45-year-old Aleksandar Aco Martinovic, began his rampage at a restaurant on Wednesday afternoon following a brawl. Prosecutor Andrijana Nastic stated that Martinovic initially killed four people at the restaurant before fatally shooting eight others at three different locations in the town.
Police cornered Martinovic near his home later in the evening. Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic reported that Martinovic attempted suicide upon realizing he was trapped. He was critically injured and died during transport to a hospital in Podgorica.
Four individuals suffered life-threatening injuries in the attack, one of whom remains in critical condition, according to Aleksandar Radovic, director of the Clinical Centre in Podgorica.
Police revealed that Martinovic had a history of illegal weapons possession and had been drinking heavily prior to the incident. After the altercation at the restaurant, he returned home to retrieve a weapon before returning to the scene and opening fire.
Authorities confirmed that the shooting was not connected to organized crime.
The incident marks the second mass shooting in Cetinje in three years. In 2022, another gunman killed 10 people, including two children, before being shot dead.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic called the massacre a “terrible tragedy” and declared three days of national mourning. President Jakov Milatovic expressed horror over the attack and extended condolences to the victims’ families.
In response to the shooting, Spajic announced that authorities would consider stricter gun control measures, including a potential ban on firearm ownership. However, such proposals are expected to face resistance in Montenegro, where gun ownership is culturally ingrained.
The Western Balkans, which includes Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, is known for its high prevalence of firearms. Despite stringent gun laws, the region remains heavily armed, with weapons stemming from the conflicts of the 1990s and earlier wars.
Authorities continue to investigate the attack and assess potential measures to prevent similar incidents.
