A minor died in hospital after a shooting in Tbilisi late on July 22 that left three other people injured, the Interior Ministry said following media reports, adding that the alleged shooter was arrested shortly after the incident, which took place on a street in the capital’s Vera district. Unconfirmed reports suggest the deceased was 17 years old.
According to the ministry, the accused shot and wounded four people, including two minors, before fleeing the scene. All four were taken to hospital, but “one of the minors died shortly after admission as a result of the injuries sustained.”
The ministry added that the alleged shooter was arrested “shortly after the incident” and that he “resisted law enforcement officers with a weapon during the arrest” and “sustained a hand injury.” It did not specify the nature of the injury.
The alleged shooter faces up to 20 years in prison or a life sentence, as an investigation is underway into attempted aggravated murder.
According to media reports, the shooting took place at the intersection of Akaki Shanidze and Akaki Khorava streets in Tbilisi’s Vera district. Eyewitness Elene Koridze said that “a man opened fire on three boys aged 17 or 18 who were sitting in a car simply because they were laughing. He then also shot a woman who was nearby.”