Five people killed, 20 wounded in shooting near Zrenjanin

Five people were killed and 20 wounded tonight in Žitište near Zrenjanin when a man, Z.S. (38), entered the Makijato café and opened fire on guests with an automatic weapon. 

The Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs, Nebojša Stefanović, arrived at the scene. Stefanović said that nothing indicated that Z.S. could commit such a murder.

He is a man who has never had a single misdemeanour, criminal charge, or report of domestic violence that would indicate danger, Stefanović said, adding that he possessed the automatic weapon illegally.

- Tonight around half past one, he used an automatic rifle, which he illegally possessed, to fire several bursts, killing five people and wounding 20. The locals who were in the café managed to take the rifle from him, and he began to flee - Stefanović told RTS.

The Serbian police minister stated that the motive for the murder is suspected to be jealousy, as Z.S. and his wife have not been living together for some time.

Stefanović stated that police officers quickly arrived at the scene, subdued and restrained the attacker who tried to flee, and that the locals had taken the rifle from him. 

He called on all citizens to surrender any illegally possessed weapons to the police without criminal liability.

(N1)