Lithuanian police acted legally in shooting armed man, internal review finds

Police officers acted lawfully when they fatally shot an armed man in Lithuania's Anykščiai district in June, according to an internal review by the Police Department's Integrity Division. No violations were found in their actions, and therefore, an official service check will not be initiated. Ramūnas Matonis, spokesperson for the Police Department, confirmed the findings. "The Integrity Division of the Police Department clarified the information. During the clarification, it was determined that they (the officers) acted in accordance with current legal acts, according to all instructions," Matonis stated. He added that based on current data, "everything was done correctly, legally, and no violations were found."

The incident occurred on June 21 when a man, born in 1951, threatened relatives in Sviesteliškiai village with an illegally held firearm. Police were called to the scene, but the man refused to comply with their demands to drop the weapon and exit his property. Officers negotiated with him for nearly 1.5 hours, issuing commands via loudspeaker. The man fired his weapon twice in an unknown direction while awaiting the arrival of the elite "Aras" unit. Upon their arrival, the man aimed his weapon at the "Aras" officers and fired, though they were unharmed. The "Aras" officers returned fire, killing the man.

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The Integrity Division of the Police Department clarified the information. During the clarification, it was determined that they (the officers) acted in accordance with current legal acts, according to all instructions. No violations were found.

A criminal investigation is underway concerning illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, or explosive materials, and resisting a public servant. Matonis noted that if new significant circumstances emerge during this criminal investigation, the internal service check could still be initiated after its conclusion. Records indicate police had been called to the man's property multiple times previously, and he may have had health issues. A weapon had previously been confiscated from him.

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But a pre-trial investigation is underway regarding the incident. If some details, other circumstances emerge during the pre-trial investigation that were not seen by the officers of the Integrity Division, then that service check may be carried out even after the pre-trial investigation is completed.