A 29-year-old man was killed by a bystander after attacking a paramedic and others with a shovel outside a church in Moscow.
Key facts
- •The attack occurred at approximately 9:50 a.m. at the Church of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women in the Maryino district.
- •The assailant was a 29-year-old man with a reported history of paranoid schizophrenia.
- •A female paramedic was hospitalized in critical condition after being struck with a shovel.
- •A bystander who shot the attacker was arrested; authorities confirmed the firearm used was legally owned.
- •The man had reportedly been experiencing hallucinations and 'voices in his head' on the morning of the attack.
A 29-year-old man was shot and killed by a bystander outside the Church of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women in Moscow’s Maryino district on Tuesday. The assailant, who reportedly suffered from mental health issues, had attacked a paramedic with a shovel, leaving her in critical condition. Two other individuals, including a church employee and a passerby, also sustained injuries during the incident.
Details of the Attack
The incident began around 9:50 a.m. when the man started harassing churchgoers. Priests, who were familiar with the man, had requested a psychiatric emergency team, but a standard ambulance arrived instead. According to eyewitness accounts, the man struck a young female medic on the head with a shovel as she attempted to provide assistance.
Background and Law Enforcement Response
Reports indicate the man had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was registered at a local psychiatric facility. He had reportedly been experiencing depression and hallucinations in the two weeks leading up to the attack. A bystander who intervened and shot the man with a legally owned non-lethal rubber bullet firearm was subsequently arrested. Moscow police stated they had not been informed of the incident.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Moscow Times.
