A mass shooting in the small town of Cetinje, Montenegro, has left at least 10 people dead, including two children, and four others critically injured. The shooting began at a restaurant on Wednesday night and continued at three separate locations, spreading shock and grief across the nation.
The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Aleksandar Martinovic, reportedly killed himself after being surrounded by police near his home. According to Montenegro’s police chief Lazar Scepanovic, Aleksandar Martinovic shot himself in the head after being ordered to surrender. He succumbed to his injuries while being transported to a hospital.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating on social media, “This senseless act has caused immeasurable sadness and bitterness in each of us. There are no words of comfort.” The government has declared three days of national mourning in response to the incident. The country’s national security council is also considering stricter gun control measures, including a complete ban on weapon possession.
Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic confirmed that the attack began at a restaurant owned by the parents of the two child victims, aged 10 and 13, who were also killed. The restaurant owner was among the casualties, and Danilo Saranovic revealed that Aleksandar Martinovic had also killed other family members during the rampage. Authorities believe he had been heavily intoxicated before committing the attacks.
The suspect, known to have a history of illegal weapons possession and a suspended sentence in 2005 for violent behavior, fled the scene after the shootings. Police blocked all roads in and out of Cetinje, a historic town located 38 kilometers (23.6 miles) west of Podgorica, Montenegro’s capital. After an extensive manhunt, Aleksandar Martinovic was located near his home and surrounded by law enforcement.
This tragedy marks the second major shooting in Cetinje in the past three years. In August 2022, a gunman killed 10 people, including two children, before being fatally shot by a passerby.
Montenegro, a nation of just over 620,000 people, has a longstanding gun culture with widespread weapon ownership. Authorities are under increasing pressure to address not only gun control but also the broader issues of organized crime and corruption, as the country seeks to meet the European Union’s membership standards.
The latest tragedy underscores the urgent need for reforms to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.
