Lawbreaker arrested, police officer shot in Vonitsa hostage crisis

The hostage crisis in Vonitsa had a bloody ending, as the 47 year-old offender shot one of the officers with whom he was negotiating, before he was arrested by police. According to witness information, he was under the influence of alcohol when he charged into the tax offices.

The shot was fired from the offender's weapon when the police officers approached him, trying to negotiate the 55-year-old hostage's release. The bullet struck a negotiating officer, who was transported to hospital.

The suspect was apprehended by police straight after. According to sources, the wife of the suspect was present in the negotiations and was trying to stop him from further exacerbating the hostage crisis and persuade him to give himself in. The 47-year-old was obviously drunk when he went into the offices and asked the manager to note that he was no longer employed.

When the manager refused to grant his request due to the fact that the suspect was missing paperwork, the latter struck him with the grip of his weapon and tried to hold him hostage. The manager managed to escape but the suspect, equipped with a gas canister, managed to block the escape route of a 55-year-old, threatening to burn the building down.