Rakovica shooting: man, 21, hit by three bullets
A 21-year-old identified as N.P. was shot three times in the left leg from a moving car in Belgrade's Rakovica. Police are hunting a red Citroen C2 and the fugitive attackers.
- A young man identified as N.P., 21, was shot three times in the left leg on Maricka Street in Rakovica.
- The shots came from a red Citroen C2 on the move, shortly before 11 p.m. on July 24.
- Police launched Operation Vihor 3, and the attackers are still on the run.
- A car matching the description was later seen on Boulevard Kralja Aleksandra, but the match has not been confirmed.
The shooting took place on Maricka Street in Belgrade’s Rakovica district on Thursday evening, shortly before 11 p.m. The victim is a 21-year-old man identified as N.P. He was hit three times in the left leg. According to the first accounts, the shots were fired from a moving car.
An emergency medical team treated him at the scene. The young man was then taken to hospital. Based on what is known so far, his life is not in danger.
Police reached the location soon after the call and secured the scene. Forensic work was carried out overnight. Officers are searching for the vehicle from which, as reported, the gunfire came.
What is known about the car and the search?
According to the description available so far, the shots came from a red Citroen C2. The vehicle was reportedly in motion at the moment of the shooting. The attackers fled before police arrived.
To find them, police launched an operation called “Vihor 3.” It involves intensified traffic checks and a search for the suspects across a wider part of the city. A car matching the description was later spotted on Boulevard Kralja Aleksandra. It has not, however, been confirmed that it was the same vehicle.
The motive is not yet known. Authorities have not officially said whether the wounded man and the attackers have any prior connection. These circumstances will be the subject of further work by police and prosecutors.
The event carries the marks of a settling of scores. Firing from a moving vehicle late at night points to preparation and intent on the part of the suspects. Yet guilt is not presumed. It is established in proceedings, and the suspects have yet to be identified and arrested.
How do investigations like this proceed?
In the pre-criminal stage, police gather evidence from the scene. They look for shell casings, surveillance footage and witnesses. The vehicle description and direction of travel are key to the first phase of the search.
The wounded man will be questioned once his condition allows. His statement may steer the inquiry toward possible motives. Until then, police work from physical evidence and tips from the public.
Operations like “Vihor” involve roadblocks and stepped-up patrols. The aim is to intercept the suspects before they leave the wider city area. If the vehicle is found, forensic analysis can link the car to the site of the shooting.
The Belgrade Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office, as a rule, directs work in cases like this. The charge will depend on the established circumstances and consequences. Until proven otherwise, the presumption of innocence applies to anyone who falls under suspicion.
For now, what is known is what can be seen from the scene. One young man was wounded, one vehicle is being sought, and the police operation is under way. The rest depends on the leads the forensic work produces.
Do night-time shootings from moving cars show that settling of scores is increasingly spilling onto the open street?
