Two men were riding in a red Oka through Marks, a town in the Saratov region, with the plan to visit their mothers on Mother’s Day. Tragedy struck when gunfire cracked through the vehicle. The driver died at the scene, and his companion in the car was wounded. Investigators quickly moved to secure the area, question witnesses, and begin a meticulous reconstruction of the moments that turned a family celebration into a fatal incident.
Eyewitness accounts describe the day they began by stopping at one mother’s home to present flowers, share a brief moment of warmth, and then continue toward another relative with the bouquet. On the way, they attempted to pass Rubik on Kruzak, a confrontation that escalated in an instant. A gun was drawn, and the Oka was fired upon eight times, shattering the calm of the afternoon.
Mikhail, the friend who was in the car, did not survive. Alexey was rushed to intensive care and remains in a critical condition. Relatives remember Mikhail as a smart, cheerful man who was raising a son who was in the second grade. The family faces a painful loss as investigators pursue answers and work to secure the community from further harm.
On November 24, after the violence in Marks, authorities activated the regional Stop plan as part of the response to the incident. Emergency services and investigators worked through the day to secure the area, locate witnesses, and gather forensic evidence in an effort to reconstruct the events that led to the shooting.
Witnesses described that the shooting happened near Victory Park, a well-known landmark in the city. The attacker was driving a vehicle and quickly fled the scene, vanishing from view after the shots were fired. Police launched a search, urging residents to report information that could help identify the assailant and bring closure to those affected.
Preliminary statements pointed to a possible traffic dispute as the trigger. The red Oka reportedly blocked the path of a Land Cruiser, provoking the other driver to draw a weapon and open fire. One of the victims did not survive the exchange, and investigators are reviewing multiple lines of inquiry while the suspect remains in custody.
The suspect was identified as a 41-year-old man named Rubik Hakobyan. Authorities detained him shortly after the incident, and ongoing investigations are aimed at determining motive and potential accomplices. The case continues to unfold as officers gather witness testimony and review security footage to piece together what happened.
Earlier in the Saratov region, footage circulated online showing the detention of a suspect in connection with violent crime. The clip drew public attention to the broader issue of violence in the area and the challenges faced by police during high-pressure operations.
Authorities emphasise that the investigation is ongoing and urge calm while work continues to establish a clear sequence of events and a reliable motive. Residents are reminded to stay vigilant and report information that could help secure the community and prevent further harm.