In Irkutsk, a passenger fired a firearm at a taxi after the driver delivered him to the location where the order originated, according to the regional department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The incident unfolded late at night on a busy street, where city lights reflected off the icy pavement and the usual city sounds carried through the cold air. The trouble began when a group of three people used the taxi to take their friends home after drinking together, and they were not paid for the ride. The driver arrived at the pickup point and attempted to resolve the payment issue, trying to keep everyone safe while explaining the fare. What started as a routine dispute grew tense, and the confrontation moved from a calm chat to a charged standoff that drew the attention of onlookers and security cameras alike.
A 37-year-old man opened fire on the Toyota Vitz taxi with a Bekas pistol during the escalation, despite not holding a license to possess a firearm. The shots did not injure anyone aboard the vehicle or nearby. After the gunfire, the attacker discarded the weapon into a building entrance and fled the scene. One of the friends remaining in the company picked up the gun and carried it to a nearby garage, where it was likely kept under observation as investigators began their work. The police report notes that the group had not settled payment for the ride, adding a layer of tension to an already volatile moment.
Two administrative reports have been opened regarding the attacker, and the investigation continues as officers gather evidence, interview witnesses, and review surrounding surveillance footage. The suspect told police that he had found the gun in the woods last autumn, a claim that police will examine as part of establishing how the weapon ended up in his hands and whether there was any prior intent to use it in violence.
Earlier reports described a separate incident in which a car went under the ice in the Khabarovsk Territory, illustrating how regions across the country face dangerous events in different contexts. The Irkutsk case remains the focus of ongoing inquiries as authorities work to clarify timelines, verify the weapon’s provenance, and determine if any other individuals were involved in the act or subsequent disposal of the firearm.