Armed fugitive found dead after dramatic 24-hour manhunt in Slovenia

A tense, nearly 24-hour police search in southeastern Slovenia ended dramatically Saturday evening with the death of an armed and dangerous fugitive. The suspect, identified as 41-year-old Croatian citizen Srđan Aleksić, was found dead after special police units stormed a house where he had taken refuge.

Authorities are expected to release more official details today, but preliminary information suggests Aleksić was a highly dangerous individual, believed to be armed with a firearm. Reports indicate he may have been a former member of Croatian special police forces, which could explain his tactical skills in evading extensive police forces for nearly a day, allegedly with an automatic weapon.

The events in Slovenia followed an incident two days prior in Pula, Croatia. Aleksić is accused of seriously injuring a 60-year-old man with a firearm in the Valdebek area before fleeing. Following this, the Istrian police initiated an intensive search.

On Friday evening, Aleksić reportedly appeared in Črnomelj, Slovenia. Around 8 p.m., he allegedly entered a gas station armed with an automatic weapon, threatening employees and stealing money and cigarettes. No one was injured during the robbery, and the suspect fled in a van, according to reports from Dnevnik.si.

According to Slovenian N1, Aleksić then sought refuge in a house occupied by an elderly man. He allegedly changed clothes inside and, when police arrived, instructed the homeowner to open the door and try to deter them while Aleksić stood behind him with a rifle. Police quickly extracted the elderly man to safety before Aleksić reportedly opened fire again. Slovenian police launched a large-scale search immediately after the robbery, closing key roads and deploying helicopter surveillance, creating a palpable sense of fear among local residents.