Man charged with attempted murder of police officer in Jonava

Prosecutors have formally charged a man with the attempted murder of a police officer in Jonava, the General Prosecutor’s Office announced on Monday, citing BNS.

The suspect, born in 1980, was remanded in custody following a request by prosecutor Vytautas Gataveckas, who oversees the pre-trial investigation. Kaunas District Court granted the request, imposing the strictest preventive measure.

The incident occurred on June 13, when police responded to a report of a dangerous individual in Jonava. Upon arrival, an intoxicated man allegedly threatened officers with a firearm and shot at one of them at least three times. The officer managed to retreat, but a police vehicle was damaged.

“Pre-trial investigation data provides reasonable grounds to suspect that the man, through his actions, attempted to murder a public servant—a police officer—due to the performance of his official duties,” the prosecutor’s office stated.

Police were called to an apartment on P. Vaičiūno Street on Saturday evening following a report of a possibly intoxicated relative causing a disturbance. The suspect fired multiple shots and barricaded himself inside. Special forces arrested him around 2 a.m., after he resisted and refused a sobriety test.

The suspect has four prior convictions, all of which have expired. Under Lithuanian law, the attempted murder of a public servant in the line of duty carries a sentence of 8 to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment.