Montenegro Observes Three-Day Mourning Period Following the Death of 12 in Cetinje Shooting
In Montenegro, January 2 marks the beginning of a three-day mourning period following the tragic events in Cetinje that left at least 12 people dead on the first day of 2025. Among those killed were two brothers, aged 10 and 13.
The suspect in this mass shooting, Aco Martinović, reportedly took his own life. He died during transport to the hospital according to official reports.
Four individuals with severe injuries were sent to the Clinical Center in Podgorica.
One patient is in extremely critical condition, while the other three are stable but still vulnerable, stated Aleksandar Radović, Director of the Clinical Center, on January 2.
“Two men and one woman are stable and are currently in the process of being separated from the respirator. The fourth patient is critically injured and underwent surgery early this morning,” Radović explained.
The final count of victims and the locations of the incidents will be confirmed following an investigation, as indicated by Prosecutor Andrijana Nastić just after midnight.
The victims were shot at five separate locations—four individuals at the first two sites, two children at the third, and one person each at the fourth and fifth locations, as per Nastić’s precision.
The first four victims were killed around 5 PM at the Velecular Cafe in the broader city center after a lengthy period of socializing that culminated in a quarrel.
Police reported around midnight that “it is likely that 12 people were killed.”
“However, please do not take this as final information until identifications and autopsies have been performed,” noted Lazar Šćepanović, Director of the Police Administration.
Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović stated that the motive for the murders remains unknown, particularly as the victims included Martinović’s relatives, friends, and godparents.
The next day, on January 2, police reiterated known details, clarifying that the shootings occurred between 5:25 PM and 5:57 PM, and that the killer was discovered at 11:35 PM after he shot himself in the head.
The police have not revealed the identities of the victims, providing only their initials.
All over Montenegro, citizens turned candles for the victims in Cetinje
Citizens of Cetinje and Podgorica lit candles in honor of the victims on January 1, when 12 individuals, including two children, were killed and four others wounded. The perpetrator shot himself, dying on the way to the hospital.
Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajic announced plans to tighten firearm regulation, potentially leading to an outright ban on weapons.
An extraordinary session of the National Security Council has been scheduled for January 3.
President Jakov Milatović expressed his shock and sorrow over the tragic event, extending his condolences to the families and friends of the victims while praying for the recovery of those injured.
Former President Milo Djukanović also conveyed his condolences, criticizing police leadership for their failure to act promptly and calling for accountability.
“While the top police officials were effectively unaware of the killer’s actions, I learned about the tragedy in Cetinje through regional media,” he remarked.
The U.S. Embassy in Montenegro stated that it is “deeply shocked and shaken” by the tragic events in Cetinje. They expressed solidarity with the citizens during this difficult time in a public statement on X.
In addition to Montenegrin officials, condolences came from numerous regional leaders and foreign embassies via Telegram messages.
On January 2, several hundred students and citizens in Belgrade participated in a 29-minute silence to honor the 15 victims in Novi Sad, the two victims in Arilje, and the 12 victims in Cetinje.
In light of this tragedy, all upcoming New Year celebrations in Montenegro have been canceled.
This marks the second mass shooting in Cetinje within the last two years; in August 2022, Vuk Borilović carried out a similar attack, killing 10 individuals before being fatally shot.