Assailant of Šiauliai coach Songaila found: suspect faces charges

Police have located the man who attacked and injured Darius Songaila, the 48-year-old head coach of the Šiauliai basketball team, LRT.lt reports. A 43-year-old Šiauliai resident with a prior criminal record has been formally charged, with a restraining order imposed as a precautionary measure.

Artūras Šliavas, head of the Communications Division at the Šiauliai County Chief Police Commissariat, confirmed the suspect’s arrest. Authorities are conducting a pre-trial investigation under Article 138, Part 2, Point 8 of the Criminal Code, which covers minor health disorders caused by hooligan motives and carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.

The incident occurred on the evening of May 19 in central Šiauliai, on A. J. Greimo Street. Songaila, a former long-time Lithuanian national team and NBA player, was walking his small family dog near the Saulės Miestas shopping centre when a large, aggressive dog appeared. To protect his pet, Songaila picked it up. When the attacking dog persisted, he pushed it away with his foot.

The dog’s owner then approached aggressively and struck Songaila with a heavy metal chain. The blow was forceful enough to cut his head and knock out a tooth. The assailant fled the scene, and Songaila reported the attack to the police.

Authorities initially struggled to identify the suspect due to poor-quality surveillance footage. However, local residents suggested the attacker might be a man recently returned from the UK with a history of violent behaviour.

The assault took place the day before a decisive LKL quarter-final match. Songaila’s Šiauliai team had lost the series 0-2 at that point.