PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) — At least 10 people, including two children, were killed and four others were seriously wounded on Wednesday in a shooting rampage that followed a bar brawl in a western Montenegrin city, officials said. The shooter was on the run.
Police identified the attacker as 45-year-old Aco Martinovic. He killed the owner of the bar in the city of Cetinje, the bar owner's children and his own family members, Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic said at a news conference.
“At this moment, we are focused on arresting him,” Saranovic told reporters.
Police dispatched special troops to search for the attacker in Cetinje, located some 30 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of the capital, Podgorica. All the roads in and out of the city have been blocked as police swarmed the streets.
Saranovic described the suspect as dangerous and appealed on the residents to stay indoors.
“The level of rage and brutality shows that sometimes such people ... are even more dangerous than members of organized criminal gangs,” Saranovic said.
Martinovic was at the bar throughout the day with other guests when the brawl erupted, said Police Commissioner Lazar Scepanovic. He said that Martinovic then went home, brough back a weapon and opened fire at around 5:30 p.m.
“He killed four people” at the bar, before heading out and then continued shooting at three more locations, said Scepanovic. "He tried to take the lives of four more people, and then fled with the vehicle he was using, which we have found.”
He said that the suspect received a suspended sentence in 2005 for violent behavior and has appealed his latest conviction for illegal possession of weapons. Montenegrin media have reported he was known for erratic and violent behavior.
Small Montenegro, which has some 620,000 people, is known for its gun culture and many people traditionally have weapons.
Wednesday’s shooting was the second shooting rampage over the past three years in Cetinje, Montenegro’s historic capital. An attacker also killed 10 people, including two children, in August 2022 before he was shot and killed by a passerby in Cetinje.
President Jakov Milatovic said he was “shocked and stunned” by the tragedy. “Instead of holiday joy ... we have been gripped by sadness over the loss of innocent lives,” Milatovic said on the social media platform X.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic went to the hospital where the wounded were being treated and announced three days of mourning. He said “all police teams” were out searching for the suspect.
“This is a terrible tragedy that has affected us all,” Spajic said.
Police investigators work at the site of a shooting in Cetinje, 36 kilometers (22 miles) west of Podogrica, Montenegro, Wednesday, Jan 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic)
Police investigators work at the site of a shooting in Cetinje, 36 kilometers (22 miles) west of Podogrica, Montenegro, Wednesday, Jan 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic)
MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler was Miami's best player for five years, the leader of a team that went to the NBA Finals twice in his tenure. He talked big and, at times, played bigger. He spoke with reverence for the city, for the franchise, for the famed “Heat Culture.”
He also missed a lot of games, seemed unhappy at times and then didn't get a $113 million extension that he was eligible for last summer.
And now, a breakup looms.
One day after Butler said that he doesn't think he can find on-court joy in Miami going forward, the Heat suspended him for seven games and said they will listen to trade offers — a clear sign that they do not expect him to wear their uniform again.
“We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks,” the team said in a statement Friday night. “Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team.”
Butler will lose about $336,543 per game during the suspension, about $2,355,798 in all. He has the right to an appeal, which could lessen the financial hit.
The National Basketball Players Association said it intends to file a grievance, calling the seven-game suspension “excessive and inappropriate.”
Barring a change to the suspension on appeal, Butler will not be with the team for its home game Saturday against Utah and then the totality of a six-game road trip to Sacramento, Golden State, Utah, Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers.
In theory, the earliest that Butler could play again for the Heat is Jan. 17 at home against Denver. But he has likely played for Miami for the final time.
“Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers,” the Heat said.
Butler's agent, Bernie Lee, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The team saying it's open to moving the six-time All-Star is a sharp turnaround from a week ago, when Heat President Pat Riley said that the team would not trade Butler.
That was then. Now, the relationship between Butler and the Heat — a talking point for weeks — appears to be well past the breaking point.
The Heat lost to Indiana 128-115 on Thursday night, with Butler scoring exactly nine points and sitting out the fourth quarter for the second consecutive game. It also happened Wednesday in a win over New Orleans.
“What do I want to see happen? I want to see me get my joy back from playing basketball, wherever that may be — we’ll find out here pretty soon,” Butler said after Thursday's game. “I want to get my joy back. I’m happy here, off the court, but I want to be back to somewhere dominant. I want to hoop and I want to help this team win. Right now, I’m not doing that.”
He was then asked if he can find that joy in Miami. “Probably not,” Butler said, and with that, his postgame news conference ended.
Most likely, so did his Heat tenure.
“Who moves the needle the most on our team is Jimmy,” Riley said in May, after last season ended. “Jimmy moves the needle the most. He’s an incredible player.”
Butler left a mark in Miami over his 5 1/2 seasons — eighth in team history in points, eighth in assists, eighth in steals, all of that in just 313 appearances. And in the playoffs, he was exceptional: There have been 18 games of 40 or more points in team postseason history and Butler is responsible for eight of them, including a record 56-point night against Milwaukee in the 2023 playoffs.
The 35-year-old Butler became eligible last summer for an extension. The Heat did not offer one, and Riley expressed reservations about how giving such a deal to any player who misses a big number of games.
Butler has missed about one of every four Heat contests since he joined the team. He said at media day this fall he believed his play this season would have the extension decision “take care of itself.”
“I guess I’ve got to go and hoop. ... I’ve got to prove that I am a major part of winning and rightfully so. I’ve done it before. This is no different,” Butler said then.
It didn't happen.
The bad breakup won't be the first for the Heat — LeBron James left in 2014, Dwyane Wade left before eventually returning, Shaquille O'Neal got traded — and won't be the first for Butler, either.
There are parallels to what’s happening in Miami now and the end of Butler’s time in Minnesota.
In 2018, Butler was months away from potentially becoming a free agent (as is the case now) and was unhappy with the Timberwolves (as is the case now, just with the Heat). He said in an interview with ESPN — after an infamous practice where he shredded teammates with his play and his words — that he wanted to hear the Wolves saying, “We need you. We want you here. We can’t do this without you.”
His words from Tuesday in Miami suggested the same, that he’s not feeling the level of love that he wanted from the Heat. “It’s good to be talked about. Even better to be wanted, though. Remember that,” Butler said after a practice session.
Eventually, Butler got his way. Minnesota traded him to Philadelphia — and then he got his way again less than a year later, when he agreed to join the Heat after a sign-and-trade. He said he wanted to be in Miami to finish his career.
Both sides were rewarded along the way. Butler has made about $200 million in salary in his 5 1/2 Heat seasons (with another $25 million still coming this season), and the Heat got to enjoy two runs to the NBA Finals.
It worked. Until it didn't.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler is introduced before an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) stands on the court during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler, third from left, and forward Duncan Robinson, right, watch from the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) and center Bam Adebayo, left, are introduced before an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler warms up on the court before an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
