TRIPLE MURDER SUSPECT DIES BY SUICIDE

PODGORICA, SEPTEMBER 1 /SRNA/ - Russian national Mikhail Nikolayevich Shabunyanin, 30, suspected of killing three men at the “Česka Zbrojovka” shooting range near Danilovgrad, died by suicide after police surrounded him in a forest above Herceg Novi, Police Administration Director Lazar Šćepanović said.

Šćepanović said that Shabunyanin was located at around 3:35 a.m. using specialized equipment and a helicopter belonging to the Montenegrin Army.

“After the suspect was surrounded and found himself in a desperate situation, he opened fire on police officers and then took his own life using a firearm,” Šćepanović said.

Shabunyanin is suspected of killing Podgorica residents Nemanja Kapor, 20, and Petar Globarević, 24, as well as Momir Radonjić, 67, from Danilovgrad.

The search for him had been underway since 5:00 p.m. yesterday, when three bodies were found at the “Česka Zbrojovka” shooting range in Danilovgrad, Radio Television of Montenegro reported.

Shabunyanin is believed to have initially fled in one of the victims’ cars to Rogami, after which he took a taxi from Podgorica to Herceg Novi.

A Seat Cordoba was found during an intensive search of the area around Vranjske Njive, near the “Stefan” restaurant, in a meadow.

Šćepanović said that police identified the suspect in the Danilovgrad triple murder within a very short period of time, noting that he was a Russian national who had been staying at the “Česka Zbrojovka” shooting range in the days preceding the incident.

A large number of police officers were involved in the search, including members of the “South” Regional Security Centre, the Special Police Unit and the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit.

A Montenegrin Army helicopter was also deployed to transport members of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit, along with available modern technical equipment and other resources.

Police said they are working to establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident, including its cause and motive.

The Government of Montenegro has declared September 1 and 2 days of mourning following the triple murder in Danilovgrad.