Montenegro manhunt ends with Russian triple-murder suspect dead

PODGORICA, Montenegro - A manhunt for an armed Russian suspect killed three people ended early Tuesday when the suspect took his own life after a shootout with police, authorities announced. The 30-year-old Russian had shot dead three employees at a shooting range in Danilovgrad, near the capital Podgorica. Following a lengthy search involving special forces and a helicopter, the suspect was found hiding in the woods above Herceg Novi, over 120 kilometers from the crime scene.

Police stated that after being surrounded, the suspect opened fire at officers before taking his own life with a firearm. The victims were a 20-year-old and a 24-year-old from Podgorica, and a 67-year-old man from Danilovgrad. The suspect had stolen a vehicle belonging to one of the victims during the escape. Montenegro's Prime Minister Milojko Spajic offered condolences to the families of the victims and declared two days of national mourning beginning Tuesday.

The police are conducting further investigation alongside the Higher State Prosecutor's Office in Podgorica to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident, including its cause and motive.