Russian National Suspected in Montenegro Triple Murder Dies During Police Operation
Podgorica, Montenegro — A major manhunt in Montenegro ended early Tuesday after a Russian national suspected of killing three people at a shooting range in Danilovgrad died by suicide while police were closing in on him.
Montenegrin police said 30-year-old Mikhail Nikolaevich Shabunin, a Russian citizen, was located in a wooded area above the Topla settlement in Herceg Novi at around 3:35 a.m. Police units, supported by specialized equipment and a military helicopter, had surrounded the suspect after narrowing down his location.
According to investigators, Shabunin was suspected of opening fire at the Česka Zbrojevka shooting range near Danilovgrad on August 31. Three employees of the facility were killed in the incident. The victims were identified by authorities as Petar Globarević, 24, Momir Radonjić, 67, and Nemanja Kapor, 20.
Police said the suspect had been at the shooting range before the attack and allegedly carried out test shots before entering the facility and firing at the employees. After the killings, he reportedly fled using a vehicle belonging to one of the victims. The vehicle was later found abandoned near Podgorica.
Investigators subsequently traced his movements toward Herceg Novi. Police deployed specialized units and a military helicopter as they searched the area for the armed suspect and warned residents to remain cautious.
When officers finally located and surrounded Shabunin in the forest, police said he opened fire in the direction of the officers. Authorities then reported that he used a firearm to take his own life.
Montenegro’s Police Administration confirmed that the immediate security crisis had ended but said the investigation would continue. Prosecutors and police are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the killings and determine the motive behind the attack.
The triple killing has shocked Montenegro, with the government declaring September 1 and 2 as days of mourning. Authorities have also postponed the start of the school year in Danilovgrad until September 3.
The case remains under investigation as authorities work to reconstruct the suspect’s movements before and after the shooting and determine what led to the deadly attack.
