CETINJE: A devastating shooting spree in the village of Bajice near Cetinje, Montenegro, has claimed the lives of 12 people, including two children, with the gunman ultimately taking his own life, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The attack began on Wednesday evening around 5:30 PM local time (1630 GMT) when the gunman, armed with illegal firearms, opened fire at a restaurant. Prosecutor Andrijana Nastić reported that victims were found at five separate locations, with four fatalities occurring initially at the restaurant.
Police investigations are ongoing to piece together the sequence of events, while evidence from all crime scenes has been collected. Officials have ruled out any connections to organized crime.
The shooter, whose motives remain unclear, ended the rampage by shooting himself in the head.
Four individuals were seriously injured in the attack and remain hospitalized in the capital, Podgorica. Health Minister Vojislav Šimun noted that three of the victims are in critical condition.
This mass shooting has sent shockwaves through the small Balkan nation, where such incidents are exceedingly rare. The Montenegrin government has declared three days of national mourning to honor the victims.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, which has cast a somber shadow over the community.
