CETINJE, Montenegro — A sense of shock and grief enveloped Montenegro on Thursday after a gunman claimed the lives of 12 individuals, including two children, in a tragic incident in the western town of Cetinje, before taking his own life.
Officials reported that at least four other individuals were injured during the shooting spree, which unfolded on Wednesday and was triggered by a dispute at a bar. This marks the second such violent event in Cetinje within the last three years.
In the evening, hundreds congregated in the main square of Cetinje for a candlelight vigil to honor the victims.
Police Commissioner Lazar Š?epanovi? characterized the shooting as “one of the biggest tragedies in the history of Montenegro,” detailing that the deceased included seven men, three women, and the two children, born in 2011 and 2016.
Š?epanovi? indicated that many of the victims were associates of the shooter, referring to them as his closest friends and family, including his own sister. He emphasized that the assault was not a premeditated act but rather an unpredictable event.
The perpetrator, identified as 45-year-old Aco Martinovi?, reportedly targeted the owner of the bar, the owner’s children, and members of his own family during the rampage.
Following the violent incident, the shooter initially managed to escape but was later cornered by police. Authorities reported that he ended his life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Residents of Cetinje, a town with a population of approximately 17,000, expressed their disbelief and sorrow. “I knew all of these people personally, including the attacker. What happened was unimaginable,” shared Vesko Miloševi?, a retiree from the area.
Another resident, Vanja Popovi?, whose family members were victims, echoed the sentiment of disbelief, stating, “We are all in shock.”
In response to the incident, police dispatched a specialized unit to locate the assailant, with all access routes to Cetinje being blocked for several hours. Reports specified that the shooter died from his severe injuries while being transported to a hospital in the capital.
Prosecutor Andrijana Nasti? provided additional context, noting that Martinovi? had been at the bar earlier in the day when the altercation occurred. Following the confrontation, he returned home to retrieve a weapon and initiated the attack around 5:30 p.m.
The prosecutor revealed that the shooter targeted six locations, beginning with the bar where four victims were shot, before moving to another scene where he claimed four more lives, including two children at a third site. Subsequently, he continued his rampage before ultimately taking his own life.
“Further investigation will determine the exact circumstances of the events,” Nasti? affirmed.
In the wake of this tragedy, the government has announced three days of national mourning starting Thursday, canceling all planned New Year’s celebrations across the country.
Prime Minister Milojko Spaji? commented on the possibility of implementing a comprehensive weapons ban, stating, “We must ask ourselves who should be allowed to have guns in Montenegro.”
Montenegro, a small nation along the Adriatic Sea with a population of around 620,000, is known for its historical gun culture, with many citizens traditionally owning firearms.
This shooting incident follows a similar tragedy in August 2022, when a gunman in Cetinje killed 10 individuals, including two children, before being shot dead by a bystander.
Authorities disclosed that the shooter in Wednesday’s incident had a history of violence, receiving a suspended sentence in 2005 for aggressive behavior and had been appealing a recent conviction for illegal weapons possession. Local media indicated that he was recognized for his unstable and violent nature.
“Instead of holiday joy, we are engulfed by sorrow over the loss of innocent lives,” commented Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatovi? in a statement.
