A gunman who committed a horrific mass shooting in Montenegro has died from self-inflicted injuries after a rampage that left at least 12 people dead. The suspect, identified as Aleksandar Aco Martinovic, 45, initiated the violence on Wednesday afternoon at a restaurant in the small town of Cetinje, following a brawl with patrons.

Initially, Martinovic shot and killed four individuals before continuing his attack across three other locations, adding to the toll with the fatalities including two children. When cornered by police near his home, he attempted suicide and later succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital, according to CNN.

Montenegro’s Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic related that Martinovic attempted suicide when faced with arrest. “When he saw that he was in a hopeless situation, he attempted suicide,” Saranovic informed the state broadcaster RTCG. This tragic event marks one of Montenegro's deadliest mass shootings, mirroring a similar incident in 2022 in the same town that resulted in the deaths of 10 people.

Authorities established that Martinovic had a history of illegal weapons possession and was reportedly drinking heavily before the shooting. Local police director, Lazar Scepanovic, confirmed that the attack was not connected to organized crime, which is a significant aspect of Montenegro's complex societal issues.

The prime minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajic, expressed his condolences, calling the event a “terrible tragedy” while declaring three days of national mourning. Spajic has suggested the possibility of tightening gun ownership laws, which may include an outright ban. This announcement could face resistance in a country renowned for its deeply entrenched gun culture, shaped by the remnants of conflicts from the 1990s and even earlier.

This incident has shocked the community in Montenegro, home to approximately 605,000 residents, as many come to terms with the reality of such violence impacting their nation.

For further details, visit the full articles from Reuters and CNN.