In Vyatskiye Polyany, located in the Kirov region, a man who was intoxicated opened fire from a top-floor window of a five-story building on Profsoyuznaya Street. The Kirov regional office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the 47-year-old shooter locked himself in his apartment and fired at the window with a hunting rifle.
Law enforcement quickly cordoned off the area as SOBR units arrived. The regional governor, Alexander Sokolov, stated on his Telegram channel that there were two smoothbore weapons found near the shooter. He noted that the man had a long period of abstinence from alcohol, suggesting the apparent change in behavior may be linked to recent health issues. He added that there was no other person inside the apartment, the situation was under control, and no lives were lost. He also mentioned that officers from the Special Rapid Response Unit were on their way to the scene.
Telegram channel Shot reported that the shooter used a hunting rifle to target a police officer’s bulletproof vest, with no injuries reported. The channel also claimed that the mother-in-law was inside the apartment and managed to escape to neighboring units. Witness accounts described a tense standoff as the man fired at responding officers and the ambulance crew. An eyewitness, Ilya, described the shooter as unresponsive to negotiation attempts, continuing to fire as law enforcement approached.
Investigators later confirmed that the gunman fired directly toward police officers. According to reporting from Shot, security forces conducted a three-hour operation to breach the apartment after negotiations, during which the man resisted, firing at the door before being apprehended.
The district attorney’s office announced that the suspect had been detained and that a criminal case was opened under the charge of infringing on the life of law enforcement officers. One law enforcement officer sustained a minor injury from a ricochet and was reported to be out of danger. A number of cartridge cases and bullet marks were found inside the attacker’s apartment as investigators began the scene examination.
The suspect is to be taken to a police station for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.
Details Known About the Suspect
The SHOT Telegram channel identified the shooter as Alexander Aleshin, a 47-year-old resident of Vyatskiye Polyany who worked in the wastewater sector. Aleshin’s wife told reporters that he had not consumed alcohol for about 16 years, but doctors recently discovered a brain tumor, which reportedly led to heavy drinking in the days before the incident. Other outlets have reported a four-day drinking period prior to the event and described a change in behavior. The shooter’s wife stated that on the morning of the incident, he was supposed to go to work and their two children aged 10 and 15 were at home at the time of the events.
A local contact from the city’s dispatch service described a family dispute as a possible precursor, noting that the husband had reportedly been drinking for a few days and took a gun with him. Reports also indicated that Aleshin had prior health challenges, including hearing loss and a micro-stroke, with doctors previously warning about his prognosis. Neighbors and family members described him as generally hardworking and non-problematic, with hunting interests and registered hunting rifles. The investigation continues as authorities piece together the timeline and circumstances surrounding the incident.
Local relatives expressed surprise at the escalation. The wife commented that he had never previously shown aggression, and she noted that he had been keeping many emotions inside recently. On the day of the event, she had sought to calm him and urged rest, but early in the morning he left for work and later began the violence after a call from a family member reporting that he had been drinking. The overall picture being built points to a crisis that culminated in the Sunday’s confrontation with security forces.