MAKHACHKALA. Feb 18 (Interfax) - A criminal case of murder under Article 105.2 of the Russian Criminal Code (murder of two or more people) has been launched in relation to the murder of three customers of a cafe by a police inspector, Interfax was told at the Dagestani department of the Investigative Committee of Russia.
"There is no evidence to support the theory that the murder was committed in self-defense. The main theory is that the officer started shooting during an argument that flared up suddenly," the officials said.
Three people were killed in a cafe in Akushinsky Avenue in Makchachkala Sunday evening. On Sunday night the press service of the Dagestani Interior Ministry reported that the inspector used his weapon in self-defense.
A ministry press officer commented on the situation for Interfax on Monday.
"The information about self-defense was tentative. The conclusions were drawn on the basis of what the police officer said. An internal probe was ordered. Conclusions will be drawn after its completion and a decision made, in particular regarding the superiors of the suspect," the press officer said.
A source in law enforcement told Interfax that the inspector was off duty at the time of the incident. He said that in the cafe the inspector had an argument with three drunken fixed-route taxi drivers. During the argument the inspector used his gun. Six empty cases were discovered at the scene, the source said.