The Croatian town of Drniš was left in shock after 19-year-old Luka M., a food delivery worker, was killed while delivering pizza to the family home of the suspected attacker. According to the reports, the suspect, identified as 50-year-old Kristijan Aleksić, allegedly shot the young man on the terrace of his house on Saturday night and then fled the scene. The victim’s colleague reportedly escaped and called the police after the attack.
A large police operation followed, with hundreds of officers, special units, drones, a helicopter, thermal cameras and police dogs involved in the search. All entrances and exits from Drniš were closed, while residents were advised not to leave their homes. Schools and kindergartens were also closed as the town remained under heavy police presence.
After a search lasting more than 24 hours, police arrested Aleksić near his home. Reports state that he was found with a firearm and a knife with a 20-centimetre blade, while some reports said he had used pepper in an attempt to confuse police dogs. A shop worker from Drniš said he had bought canned food, pepper and drinks before the arrest and had asked whether the shop had security cameras.
The case has raised further concern because police officials said the suspect had a serious criminal record, including previous convictions and a prison sentence for an earlier killing. Authorities also stated that illegal weapons had been found with him three years ago, after which criminal proceedings were initiated, but the court process had not yet begun.
Drniš declared a day of mourning for the funeral of the young victim. Reports also noted that Luka’s mother decided he would be buried in the suit he had been expected to wear at his graduation celebration, deepening the sense of tragedy in a town described as peaceful and shaken by the killing.
