Prosecutors refer case of Šalčininkai residents accused of shooting at Vilnius buses to court

Lithuania’s General Prosecutor’s Office has referred a criminal case to Vilnius District Court against two young men from the Šalčininkai district, accusing them of damaging property in a manner dangerous to public safety and violating public order, BNS reports.

One of the suspects, identified as J. L., also faces charges of theft, while the other, D. K., is accused of the unauthorised possession of psychotropic substances without intent to distribute.

According to the pre-trial investigation, between 23 and 30 June 2025, the two men—born in 2004—allegedly fired at passing public transport buses and bus stop pavilions in Vilnius and the surrounding district from a pneumatic weapon while driving a BMW car. They face a total of 29 counts of criminal activity, with damages exceeding €13,000.

The investigation began after reports emerged in June 2025 of widespread damage to Vilnius public transport buses and bus stop pavilions. Video footage led authorities to J. L. as a suspect, with further inquiries identifying D. K. as an accomplice.

To prevent the destruction of evidence, searches were conducted in Vilnius and the district, during which a pneumatic weapon and psychotropic substances were found at D. K.’s residence. J. L. is also accused of stealing €6,000 from a Šalčininkai resident between 2023 and 2024.

The most severe potential penalty for damaging property in a manner dangerous to public safety is up to five years in prison under Lithuania’s Criminal Code.