Cetinje, Montenegro — A devastating mass shooting in the Montenegrin town of Cetinje has prompted three days of national mourning after a local man, 45-year-old Aco Martinović, fatally shot 12 people, including two children, before ending his own life. The tragic event unfolded beginning at a neighborhood bar on January 1, 2025, around 5:30 PM, following an altercation. The violence quickly escalated as Martinović targeted other locations, magnifying the grief throughout the community.
The massacre began when Martinović left the bar, returned home to retrieve a firearm, and subsequently shot four individuals at the establishment. The spree continued at multiple sites across the town, leaving several of his relatives and close friends among the victims. The fatalities also included the bar owner and his two children, ages 10 and 13.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic voiced his profound sorrow, describing the incident as a dark cloud over the nation. The government swiftly announced a period of mourning, canceling all New Year celebrations, and began deliberating a potential overhaul of the national gun ownership laws.
The National Security Council is scheduled to meet urgently to discuss the implementation of measures aimed at curbing illegal weapon possession and bolstering public safety. Proposed actions include a complete ban on private gun ownership, reflecting the gravity of the situation and the public’s demand for substantial policy changes.
Public reaction has been one of deep shock and anger, leading to widespread protests in Cetinje and the capital city of Podgorica. Demonstrators, numbering in the thousands, have called for immediate resignation of key security officials and stricter regulations to dismantle the deeply ingrained gun culture. They are also advocating for a more robust police response to illegal firearms.
This tragic event marks the second mass shooting in Cetinje in less than three years, underscoring a troubling rise in gun violence in Montenegro. A previous incident in August 2022, where a shooter killed ten individuals, had already set alarm bells ringing regarding the proliferation of firearms among civilians.
Montenegro, with its notable gun culture, faced a similar attempt to tighten gun control laws after the 2022 shooting. However, those legislative efforts have not yet been realized, and the ongoing violence has only increased the urgency for reform.
Legal experts and community leaders are now urging the government to learn from these repeated tragedies. They emphasize that effective enforcement of new gun control measures is crucial and that legal loopholes that allow easy access to firearms must be addressed.
As the nation mourns, conversations continue to turn towards reflection on the state of public safety and the cultural significance of gun ownership. There is a growing consensus that without meaningful reform, Montenegro could remain vulnerable to such devastating incidents. It has become evident that a comprehensive strategy, including education, mental health support, and community engagement, is necessary to prevent future tragedies.
In conclusion, the mass shooting in Cetinje has not only shattered lives but also reignited a critical debate on gun control and public safety in Montenegro. As mourning families bury their loved ones, the nation stands at a crossroads between longstanding traditions and the urgent need for change, hoping to pave the way toward a safer future.