A 36-year-old Moscow man who shot and killed a mentally ill attacker beating a female paramedic with a shovel has been released by police without facing criminal charges.
The man, identified as Denis, stepped in with a friend when the assailant attacked churchgoers and an ambulance crew on Belorechenskaya street in the Russian capital on the morning of September 1. Belorechenskaya is a residential street located in the southeastern part of Moscow.
Denis used a traumatic pistol to stop the assault on the medical worker. Traumatic weapons are a specific category of self-defense firearms permitted under Russian law. They are designed to fire non-lethal rubber bullets rather than standard ammunition, but they can still cause fatal injuries if fired at close range or if they strike vulnerable areas of the body. The attacker died following the shooting.
Speaking to the Russian news channel Mash on the Telegram messaging app, Denis said he does not consider himself a hero and that he deeply regrets the death of the attacker. Telegram is widely used across Russia and Eastern Europe as a primary source for breaking news and updates.
Following the emergency, police officers transported Denis to a local precinct for questioning. Investigators confiscated his pistol, which will be retained as physical evidence in the ongoing case. After reviewing the circumstances of the shooting, law enforcement authorities found no legal grounds to hold him criminally responsible and released him from custody.
Paramedic in induced coma
After returning home, Denis read the online comments regarding the incident and thanked the public for their messages of support. Acquaintances described the 36-year-old as a dedicated father who plays sports and spends significant time with his family.
He added that his main hope is for the quick recovery of the injured paramedic. The female medical worker suffered a severe brain contusion and multiple bone fractures during the shovel attack.
Doctors have placed her in a medically induced coma, a deep state of unconsciousness generated by controlled doses of anesthetic drugs. Medical professionals use this technique to protect the brain from swelling and give it time to heal after a major traumatic injury.
Surgeons also performed a trepanation on her skull. This surgical procedure involves drilling or cutting a hole in the bone to access the brain or to relieve dangerous intracranial pressure caused by bleeding and swelling.
Brother of theological writer
The morning attack happened outside a church when the man began acting erratically and turned aggressive. He first assaulted members of the congregation before attacking the ambulance crew that had arrived at the scene. Emergency medical workers in Russia often respond to calls in small teams of two or three people, sometimes facing unpredictable and dangerous situations in public spaces.
The deceased attacker was later identified as the brother of Oleg Zobern, a published Russian theological author. Reports confirmed that the man had a history of psychiatric illness.
