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Man shot dead in Moscow, state investigators dismiss earlier reports of contract killing

Source: Meduza
Update: The suspected shooter has been apprehended. According to the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office, he was wounded during the course of arrest. The Telegram channels Baza and Mash report that he sustained a head injury after firing on law enforcement. Federal investigators told state media that their leading theory of the case is that the murderer was motivated by jealousy, and that earlier reports that the shooting was a contract killing appear to have been unfounded.

A 34-year-old man was shot dead in Moscow on Thursday in what appears to have been a contract killing, according to the Russian authorities.

Unofficial Telegram channels identified the victim as Konstantin Balishansky. According to the channel Shot, a hitman opened fire on Balishansky immediately after he left his apartment building in the city’s Fili-Davydkovo district. The channel Baza reports that the victim was shot in the head as he tried to flee.

Unverified video footage shows a gunman in black clothing firing at a person crossing the street.

Viewers may find this footage disturbing.

The perpetrator, whose identity is unknown, reportedly remains at large.

According to Baza, Balishansky was a competitive skateboarder and belonged to a team called NikeSB Russia. Shot reports that he was the son of Andrey Balishinsky, the director of a media equipment company called Mediasystem Group.

The Russian authorities have opened a murder case over the shooting.

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