Burgas, Bulgaria – A tragic family dispute turned fatal on Tuesday night in the Lahana area near the Sarafovo district of Burgas, when a 91-year-old man allegedly shot and killed his 69-year-old son-in-law inside the family home.
The incident, which occurred around 9 p.m., followed days of mounting tension between the two men after the recent funeral of the suspect’s daughter.
According to information released by the Burgas Police Department, the elderly man had traveled from Stara Zagora to Burgas to stay with his son-in-law and grandson after the funeral.
The three had reportedly shared dinner together on the evening of the incident before the situation took a deadly turn. Initial investigations suggest that the grandfather fired two shots, striking his son-in-law in the head and back, killing him on the spot.
The 46-year-old grandson, who had recently returned from abroad and was living in the home to help care for his father, was upstairs when the shots were fired.
He immediately rushed downstairs, found his grandfather with the weapon, and managed to disarm him before contacting emergency services.
The suspect reportedly attempted suicide after the shooting, but the grandson’s quick intervention prevented further tragedy. Police and emergency responders arrived on the scene shortly after and secured the area.
The firearm used in the shooting was found to be in illegal possession. Authorities have since confiscated the weapon, and the 91-year-old suspect has been taken into custody at the Pomorie Regional Police Department, where he will be held for 24 hours pending further investigation.
No license for the weapon was found, and it remains unclear how the elderly man came to possess it. The victim’s body has been transported to the Forensic Medicine Department at the Burgas University Hospital for autopsy.
Investigators hope the post-mortem examination will provide additional forensic details to aid the ongoing criminal case. Officers from the Burgas Criminal Police and investigators from the Pomorie district are jointly handling the case.
Pre-trial proceedings have been launched, and a detailed investigation into the motive, weapon origin, and psychological state of the suspect is underway.
Local media report that neighbors and acquaintances of the family described the household as generally quiet, though some noted signs of emotional strain following the recent funeral. The relationship between the father-in-law and son-in-law had reportedly become strained, although no prior reports of violence had been filed.
The case has sparked public concern over domestic violence, elder mental health, and gun control in Bulgaria, particularly regarding the possession of unlicensed weapons by elderly individuals.
Authorities have yet to decide whether to press formal charges against the suspect, given his age and possible mental health considerations. A psychological assessment is expected to be conducted in the coming days.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members