Investigation into attack on Niksic businessman: Shooter prepared for 15 min, shrapnel hit ceiling

Miodrag Daka Davidovic was shot on Tuesday night at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Belgrade while in the company of the bishop of Budimlja-Niksic, Joanikije

The attacker, who shot and wounded Miodrag Daka Davidovic, 62, drove up to 70-80 meters from the business lodge on the ground floor of the Crown Plaza Hotel in New Belgrade. It took him about 15 minutes to park the vehicle and get ready before firing from a sniper rifle in the direction of the businessman from Niksic, Montenegro, the daily Vijesti reported.

Their source close to the investigation claims that footage from three surveillance cameras, which has been examined by the Belgrade police after Davidovic was injured also proves this. He was shot at about 8:40 pm on Tuesday while sitting at a table in the hotel restaurant with the Bishop of Budimlja-Niksic Joanikije, who has not been injured.

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The 62-year-old successfully underwent surgery on Wednesday evening, with two pieces of shrapnel removed from his forearm, as well as the remains of the bullet that hit him in the left arm.

"The fact that the attacker used ammunition of high destructive power is evidenced in the fact that another 7-8 pieces of shrapnel ended up in the ceiling and nearby tables, as well as making a hole in the three-layer glass, about 7-8 centimeters in diameter," said Vijesti' source.

One source claims that reconstruction works on the nearby Genex apartment complex and the fence around the construction site made the shooter's work more difficult - because he had to shoot from an unfavorable angle.

"When the gunshot was heard, Davidovic's companion responded... Everyone lay down on the floor," Vijesti was told.

One those speaking for the Montenegrin media outlet said that police inspectors in Belgrade claim that Davidovic survived thanks to the three-layer, curved glass through which the bullet traveled.

"That got in the way of the attacker's plans and probably by a fraction changed the bullet's path. That's why the Niksic man remained alive," said this source.

The authorities have not confirmed this information. Vijesti also learned from its police sources that Davidovic lives in the hotel where he was wounded.

Alone at the table

Joanikije and Davidovic were alone at a table in the Belgrade hotel at the time of the shooting. Bishop Joanikije told Vijesti that he arrived in Belgrade the night before, just before his friend was wounded from a firearm.

"I can't make any statements, there are state services that are investigating everything. I don't know if the investigation has been completed," Joanikije said.

Asked if he suspected that he might have been the target rather than Davidovic, the bishop said he had no reason to think so.

He also confirmed that he had given a statement to police inspectors in Belgrade after Davidovic's  injuring.

Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic's cabinet said they could not release more details about the attack on Davidovic because of the ongoing investigation.

"Last night (Tuesday), at 8:30 pm, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in New Belgrade, a 62-year-old man sustained an injury to his left hand. An unknown person is suspected to have wounded him from a firearm. On the order of the competent prosecutor's office the police are working intensively to clarify all the facts and circumstances of this event, and in the interests of the investigation, we are currently unable to provide you with more details," the Ministry of Interior said in its response.

(Telegraf.rs/Vijesti.me)