Tragic Montenegro Shooting Claims 10 Lives, Including Two Children

A recent shooting incident in Montenegro has left ten people dead, including two children, igniting national outrage and calls for stricter gun regulations as the country mourns the loss of innocent lives.

In a tragic incident that has shaken the small Balkan nation of Montenegro, a gunman has fatally shot at least ten people, including two children, following a violent confrontation at a bar in Cetinje, located approximately 22 miles from the capital. The local authorities have placed the country under three days of mourning to honor the victims, among whom were the bar’s owner and his children, as confirmed by the Interior Minister, Danilo Saranovic.

The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Aco Martinovic, allegedly initiated the shooting spree after a bar fight. As the police initiated a manhunt for Martinovic, Prime Minister Milojko Spajic later announced to the public that the gunman had been found dead, reportedly from self-inflicted wounds, as corroborated by reports from the local news outlet, Vijesti.

In the aftermath of this heartbreaking event, which also resulted in at least four individuals sustaining serious injuries, Prime Minister Spajic emphasized the government's intention to explore new gun control measures. "This is a terrible tragedy that has affected us all," he stated. The Montenegrin government’s response includes the cancellation of public performances and concerts, as President Jakov Milatovic expressed the collective grief felt in the nation: “Instead of holiday joy, we have been gripped by sadness over the loss of innocent lives."

The Cetinje shooting marks the second mass shooting event in the city within three years. A similar incident in 2022 also left ten people dead, including two children, with the shooter being killed by a bystander. Montenegro, which boasts a relatively high gun ownership rate with 39 firearms per 100 people, has increasingly faced scrutiny over its firearm legislation and the need for reforms, an issue expected to take precedence in national discussions.