Aco Martinović: The Monster of Cetinje

Name: Aco Martinović (aka Aleksandar Martinović)
Age: 45

Background:

• A walking red flag with a history of violence and illegal weapons possession.
• Suspended sentence in 2005 for violent behavior—because apparently, Montenegro’s justice system thought he’d just grow out of it.
• In 2022, authorities found an air rifle, weapons, and explosives in his home. He got a slap on the wrist—three months in prison—and was appealing the conviction when he decided to go on a killing spree.
• Known for illegal firearm possession, yet somehow still free to roam the streets.

Motive:

• Triggered by a bar brawl—because nothing says “I’m a stable human being” like turning a petty argument into a massacre.
• Authorities claim it was due to "disturbed interpersonal relations" and heavy alcohol consumption. Translation: a ticking time bomb that no one bothered to defuse.

Final Act:

• After slaughtering 10 people, including two children, Martinović was cornered by police. Instead of facing justice, he took the coward’s way out—shooting himself in the head.

Locations of the Carnage

The shooting spree unfolded across four locations in and around Cetinje, a historic town now scarred by bloodshed:

1. Velestovo Café (Bar/Restaurant):
   • Where it all began. A bar brawl escalated into a massacre when Martinović left, grabbed a gun, and returned to open fire.
   • Four people were killed here, including the bar owner.
2. Bajice Village:
   • Martinović moved here to continue his rampage, killing two children (ages 10 and 13) and a woman.
   • The children were the bar owner’s kids—innocent lives destroyed because a violent criminal was allowed to walk free.
3. Humci:
   • Another stop on Martinović’s killing spree. At least one person was murdered here, adding to the body count.
4. Near Martinović’s Hometown:
   • After his rampage, Martinović fled but was eventually cornered by police. Instead of surrendering, he shot himself—because why face the consequences of your actions when you can just take the easy way out?

Cetinje: A Town Drenched in Blood

• Location: Just 18 miles (30 kilometers) northwest of Podgorica, Montenegro’s capital.
• Historical Significance: Once the royal capital of Montenegro, now a town forever marked by tragedy.
• Previous Massacre: This is the second mass shooting in Cetinje in three years. In August 2022, another gunman killed 10 people, including two children.

The Victims: Lives Lost to Negligence

• Total Deaths: 10 (including Martinović).
• Injured: 4.
• Notable Victims:
  • The bar owner of Velestovo Café.
  • His two children (ages 10 and 13)—because apparently, even kids aren’t safe from Montenegro’s gun problem.
  • Family members of Martinović, including his parents.

Police Response: Too Little, Too Late

• Special Forces: Deployed after the fact—because why prevent a massacre when you can just clean up the mess afterward?
• Roadblocks: Set up to stop Martinović from escaping. Too bad they didn’t stop him from killing 10 people first.
• Manhunt: Ended with Martinović taking his own life—because justice was clearly too much to ask for.

Community Impact: A Town in Ruins

• The close-knit community of Cetinje is shattered, especially by the loss of two children.
• Montenegro declared three days of national mourning—because nothing says “we care” like a few days of half-hearted grief.

The Bigger Picture: A Nation’s Failure

This isn’t just about Aco Martinović. It’s about a system that failed at every turn:

• A justice system that let a violent criminal walk free.
• A government that ignored the gun crisis in the Western Balkans.
• A society that’s now mourning innocent lives lost to preventable violence.

Conclusion: Enough is Enough

The 2025 Cetinje shooting is a stain on Montenegro’s conscience. It’s a reminder that inaction has consequences—deadly consequences. The victims, including two innocent children, deserved better. The people of Cetinje deserved better. Montenegro deserves better.

It’s time for the government to stop talking and start acting. Because if they don’t, this won’t be the last mass shooting. It’ll just be the latest in a series of preventable tragedies.