A mentally ill man opened fire with a pistol from the roof of a multi-storey building in the city of Murmansk and tried to set it on fire, the regional department of the Investigative Committee (IC) of Russia reported.
After barricading himself, the shooter doused the roof with gasoline. He was neutralized with a precise shot from a sniper. Before being detained wounded, he managed to shoot at patrolling police officers and at least two shops.
The man turned out to be a local resident, born in 1981, registered in a psychiatric clinic. A pre-trial investigation has been initiated against him for attempted murder of law enforcement officers.
The special forces were unable to storm the roof because the man had blocked the entrances to the building with barbed wire. As a result of a precise shot, the attacker was wounded and detained.
The motives for the arrest were not reported.
There were no other victims as a result of the incident.
"Two firearms were found and seized at the scene. Investigative actions are being conducted to collect and secure the evidence base," the department said.