The suspected assassin in a botched drive-by shooting that wreaked havoc in the center of Moscow on Thursday evening reportedly shot the wrong person, a news report said.
In the incident, a man riding a moped shot at the driver of a black Mercedes on Ulitsa Pokrovka before being knocked off his vehicle and apprehended by a police officer who had witnessed the scene. The driver of the Mercedes was hospitalized and is in serious condition.
According to news agency Regnum, however, the moped assassin meant to target someone else.
Citing law enforcement authorities, Regnum said the passenger of the vehicle — the victim's wife — was believed to be the actual target.
NTV named the target of the attack as Polina Yarmolinskaya, the manager of Krosna-Bank.
The suspect faces charges of murder and illegal possession of weapons, which carry a combined maximum punishment of 19 years behind bars.
See also:
'Killer' Knocked Off Moped by Police
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
