In Bryansk, near the Ukraine border, a 14-year-old girl tragically opened fire at a secondary school, resulting in the death of a classmate before taking her own life on Thursday.
Armed with a pump-action shotgun, the assailant caused two fatalities and injured five others, as confirmed by Russia’s Investigative Committee. Although rare due to strict gun laws, violence within Russian educational institutions has been increasingly concerning.
Students captured distressing scenes on video, showing peers barricading themselves in a classroom with desks blocking the door.
Authorities haven’t disclosed the shooter’s identity but confirmed the victim as a fellow female classmate. Investigations into the motives behind the crime and how the weapon was obtained are ongoing.
The girl’s father was reportedly questioned, and their family apartment was searched. In response to previous incidents, Kremlin officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have voiced worry, linking such events to what they term as a U.S. influence.
Governor Alexander Bogomaz of Bryansk labeled the incident a “terrible tragedy” and extended condolences to the bereaved parents, pledging support for affected families.
The wounded, all minors, were rushed to a local children’s hospital with varying injuries. Bryansk, home to around 370,000 people, has faced Ukrainian drone attacks and sporadic shelling, heightening security measures amid regional tensions post Russia’s involvement in Ukraine.
Russia has tightened gun ownership laws after prior school shootings, such as the one in Izhevsk claiming 18 lives last year, another in Kazan with nine fatalities in 2021, and a tragic incident in Perm where a teenager took six lives at a university in recent years.
