Danilovgrad Killer Shabunin Found Dead Near Herceg Novi
Mikhail Shabunin (30), a Russian suspected of killing three people at a range near Danilovgrad, was found in a forest above Herceg Novi, where he shot at police and then killed himself.
Danilovgrad, one of Montenegro’s smaller municipalities, kept the entire neighboring country on edge for two days, for a reason that touches Serbia directly: thousands of Serbian citizens cross into Boka Bay and northern Montenegro every year, and since the night of August 31 that border crossing has become, in the public mind, synonymous with one of the region’s worst shootings this year. The manhunt for Mikhail Nikolayevich Shabunin (30), a Russian national suspected of killing three employees at a shooting range near Danilovgrad, ended overnight in a forest above the Topla neighborhood of Herceg Novi, where the suspect opened fire on police before killing himself. The Government of Montenegro declared September 1 and 2 days of mourning.
According to a statement from the Police Administration of Montenegro, the killings took place on August 31 at the “Ceska Zbrojevka” shooting range near Danilovgrad. The victims were Petar Globarevic (24) of Podgorica, Momir Radonjic (67) of Danilovgrad and Nemanja Kapor (20) of Podgorica, all three employees of the range. Based on the police reconstruction, Shabunin fired on one of the victims after a practice round, then killed the other two in the office where weapons and ammunition were issued. The range’s owner survived the attack because he was asleep in one of the building’s rooms at the time.
Police Administration director Lazar Scepanovic said the event could not have been predicted or prevented.
“This was an unforeseen event that could not have been prevented, nor could any potential danger have been identified, especially since the criminal investigation established that the suspect had been in contact with the victims on August 24, that he had used the range’s services, that he abused the trust of the employees working there, and that, without any provocation, which was immediately visible on site through the surveillance cameras, he killed one person first and then two more inside the building, in the office where weapons and ammunition were issued. After that he took a certain quantity of ammunition, took a vehicle and drove off in an unknown direction,” Scepanovic said.
The suspect fled the scene in a black Seat Cordoba, license plates PG AC 472, belonging to the father of one of the victims. Sources differ on exactly where the car was later found: N1 and police statements issued during the manhunt place it in Rogame near Podgorica, while nsreporter.rs cites Vranjske Njive near Podgorica. From there, Shabunin continued to Herceg Novi by taxi. He had no way to pay for the ride, so the driver kept his passport and phone.
The Police Administration said the suspect’s identity was established within just one hour. While the manhunt was underway, police asked citizens to report any information about the vehicle he was using.
“We call on citizens, if they spot the vehicle in question or have information about its movements, to immediately and without delay inform the Police Administration on the toll-free number 122, through the Police CG app (Virtual Police Station), or through any other available means,” the Police Administration said.
The suspect was located around 3:35 a.m. in a forest above the Topla neighborhood of Herceg Novi. The operation involved the Special and Special Police Units, the “South” Regional Security Center, the Border Police Sector and a Montenegrin Army helicopter. When police forces surrounded him, he opened fire on officers, none of whom were injured, and then killed himself.
“Police forces isolated the suspect in the forest,” Scepanovic said after the manhunt ended. He added that the cordon around Shabunin was such that he could only surrender or be killed, but he chose suicide instead.
Why does the Danilovgrad tragedy resonate in Serbia too?
Because the Government of Montenegro, a neighboring country that shares an open border with Serbia and draws large numbers of Serbian tourists every year, declared September 1 and 2 days of mourning, during which public cultural and entertainment programs are suspended and music is not played in hospitality venues. President Jakov Milatovic and Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandic sent condolences to the victims’ families. Because of the days of mourning, the school year in Danilovgrad will begin on September 3, two days later than in the rest of Montenegro.
The motive remains undetermined. Scepanovic said the National Security Agency is running international checks to establish Shabunin’s profile, since police have no record of prior criminal history for him, and that the public will be informed once that profile is complete. With the manhunt over, the investigation is now focused on establishing all the circumstances of the triple murder in Danilovgrad.
