A man in the Moscow region who was drunkenly celebrating his birthday shot a neighbor with a hunting gun then barricaded himself inside his house and opened fire on police who arrived at the scene, state news agency TASS reported Tuesday.
When special forces officers attempted to raid the home in the rural settlement of Malakhovka, the man set off a series of explosions causing a fire that burned down his house and killed him, the regional Investigative Committee said in a statement.
The man's remains were found after firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze, the statement said. Investigators have not yet determined what material was used to create the explosions.
The mayhem began Monday when the man "for an unknown reason" shot his neighbor during the party then opened fire on the neighborhood at random from a window of the home, TASS reported.
The neighbor was badly wounded and almost died, the NTV television channel reported, citing the neighbor's wife.
When police arrived at the scene, the gunman opened fire on them and an armored vehicle. A police officer was hospitalized after one of his eyes was badly injured by glass that shattered during the shootout, the Investigative Committee said.
Investigators have opened a case on charges of attempted murder even though the gunman is dead. The LifeNews media agency identified the gunman as 53-year-old Yury Kondakov.
Contact the author at p.spinella@imedia.ru
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
