According to preliminary information provided by the police, a 20-year-old conscript was allegedly mishandling a Glock-type weapon with a 16-year-old minor who was visiting another conscript. As a result of the incident, the juvenile was killed and the enlisted soldier was injured and taken to the hospital. His condition is assessed as stable and not life-threatening.
“So far, the police have been informed by the forensic medical expert who is examining the body of the deceased minor that he was preliminarily struck by a bullet that wounded the enlisted soldier. Forensic examination is currently ongoing to determine the exact cause of death and the serviceman who fired the shot has been detained by the police,” the police said in a statement.
At the same time, the night before, the police provided other information, according to which the 16-year-old minor suffered a severe shock and lost consciousness at the scene of the incident, and later, despite resuscitation measures, died shortly after hospitalization.
Forensic medical examination is ongoing to determine the exact cause of death.
The weapon has been seized for examination, and the police and prosecutor’s office continue to investigate all the circumstances of the incident. The soldier who allegedly fired the shot has been detained.
The case has provoked a political reaction. Alternativa Bloc MP Ion Chicu said that the incident reflects the problems of situation management in the security forces and criticized the approach to such cases.
Our Party MP Constantin Cuiumju demanded the immediate resignation of the Minister of Defense:
“We no longer accept explanations. We no longer accept promises. The price of your incompetence people pay with their lives. Enough,” Constantin Cuiumju declared.
The Socialist Party also stated that the defense minister “is obliged to resign immediately and take responsibility for the death of an innocent child.”
“The Socialist Party is taking this case under its special supervision. Our lawyers are ready to provide the bereaved family with all necessary legal assistance. We will do everything possible to ensure that those responsible—both those who carried out the act and those who allowed it through criminal negligence at the command level—are held to the strictest accountability,” the PSRM statement reads.
The Ministry of Defense has not yet provided comments on the case.
UPDATE 3:00 PM
In connection with the incident that occurred at the military unit in the southern part of the country, the criminal investigation unit of the Cahul Police Inspectorate, under the direction of prosecutors from Cahul, has opened a criminal case regarding the violation of firearm safety regulations, which resulted in the death of a person due to negligence. The suspect has been detained. The experts’ findings on the case, regarding the exact cause of death of the 16-year-old minor, are pending, in order to determine the necessary next steps.
If his guilt in committing the offense is proven, he faces a sentence of up to 7 years in prison, pursuant to Article 373(2)(b) of the Criminal Code.
At the same time, prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the actions of the medical personnel who provided first aid to the patient, focusing on the procedures followed, as well as their notification of law enforcement authorities and the provision of information regarding the victim’s condition.
Furthermore, it was decided to initiate investigations into the actions of those responsible within the military unit who distributed the issued weapons, those responsible for compliance with the Internal Service Regulations of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova; the Garrison Service and Guard Duty Regulations of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova; the Regulations on Front-Line Training of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova, as well as other instructions and regulations pertaining to the record-keeping and use of issued weapons.
