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Mladenovac and Smederevo shootings

SOLVED2023Dubona and Malo Orašje, between Mladenovac and Smederevo, Serbia3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Reliefkarte Serbien
Reliefkarte Serbien — Credit: Tschubby · CC BY-SA 3.0

On the evening of 4 May 2023, a mass shooting occurred in the villages of Dubona and Malo Orašje, located between Mladenovac and Smederevo, Serbia. The perpetrator, 20-year-old Uroš Blažić, drove between the two villages firing an automatic assault rifle and pistols at people he did not know, including a group having a barbecue in Malo Orašje and residents in a schoolyard in Dubona. Eight people were killed instantly, including an off-duty 21-year-old police officer and his 19-year-old sister; a ninth victim, a 26-year-old man wounded in Malo Orašje, died more than a month later on 23 June. At least thirteen people were injured, some critically, including a girl who had her hand amputated.

After the shooting, Blažić fled the scene, carjacked a vehicle in Dubona, and later hijacked a taxi near a tollbooth by threatening the driver and a passenger with a hand grenade. He was eventually taken to a village near Kragujevac, where he was arrested on 5 May 2023. He was charged with murder, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, kidnapping, and carjacking. During questioning, he admitted to the shootings and said he wanted to spread fear in the villages, citing alleged past bullying and disputes involving his father. His trial began on 23 August 2024, and on 12 December 2024 he was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison — the maximum sentence applicable given his age at the time of the offense. The verdict was confirmed on 20 June 2025.

Following the attack, police also arrested Blažić's father (a retired lieutenant colonel), his uncle, and his first cousin on weapons-related charges after firearms, ammunition, and explosives were found at family properties. The father was tried alongside Blažić and was found guilty on both charges, receiving a 20-year prison sentence, also confirmed on 20 June 2025. The uncle and cousin were tried separately, with proceedings beginning 27 May 2024; the cousin was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months in prison, while the uncle was acquitted. That verdict was confirmed on 8 May 2025.

The shooting occurred one day after the Belgrade school shooting, and together the two incidents led to large public protests in Serbia demanding accountability from officials and stricter firearms controls. In response, the Serbian government announced a moratorium on new gun permits, additional psychological screening for gun owners, and a month-long amnesty program for surrendering illegal weapons, which resulted in tens of thousands of firearms being handed in. President Aleksandar Vučić visited the affected villages, and a parliamentary inquiry committee was later formed to examine the circumstances of both shootings. Mass shootings are rare in Serbia and the wider Balkans, with only a handful of comparable prior incidents recorded in the 21st century.

Key facts

Victims
On file
Date
2023
Location
Dubona and Malo Orašje, between Mladenovac and Smederevo, Serbia
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2023-05-04

    Uroš Blažić opens fire from a car in Malo Orašje and Dubona, killing eight people instantly and injuring at least thirteen others.

  2. 2023-05-05

    Blažić is arrested near Kragujevac after hijacking a taxi; brought to a police station in Smederevo.

  3. 2023-05-07

    High Court orders Blažić held in custody for 30 days.

  4. 2023-05-10

    Police arrest Blažić's father, Radiša Blažić; rifle used in the shootings found in Šepšin.

  5. 2023-05-08

    Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs launches a one-month amnesty for surrendering illegal weapons.

  6. 2023-05-26

    Court orders Blažić's uncle held in custody for 30 days.

  7. 2023-06-11

    Police arrest Blažić's first cousin.

  8. 2023-06-23

    A 26-year-old man injured in Malo Orašje dies, bringing the death toll to nine.

  9. 2024-05-27

    Trial of Blažić's uncle and first cousin begins.

  10. 2024-06-19

    First cousin found guilty and sentenced to 18 months in prison; uncle acquitted.

  11. 2024-08-23

    Trial of Uroš Blažić and his father begins.

  12. 2024-12-12

    Blažić found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison; father also found guilty and sentenced to 20 years.

  13. 2025-05-08

    Verdict against uncle and first cousin confirmed.

  14. 2025-06-20

    Verdict against Blažić and his father confirmed.

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People

  • Uroš Blažić

    CONVICTED

    Found guilty on 12 December 2024 of murder, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, kidnapping, and carjacking; sentenced to 20 years in prison; verdict confirmed 20 June 2025.

  • Blažić's first cousin

    CONVICTED

    First cousin of Uroš Blažić; found guilty of criminal possession of a weapon and sentenced to 18 months in prison; verdict confirmed 8 May 2025. Named person not identified by full name in source.

  • Blažić's uncle

    ACQUITTED

    Uncle of Uroš Blažić; tried on charges of criminal possession of a weapon and acquitted; verdict confirmed 8 May 2025. Named person not identified by full name in source.

  • Radiša Blažić

    CONVICTED

    Father of Uroš Blažić; found guilty on charges related to criminal possession of a weapon and acts against public safety, sentenced to 20 years in prison; verdict confirmed 20 June 2025.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Archival records

  • Reliefkarte Serbien

    archival location

    Reliefkarte Serbien

    Credit: Tschubby · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

Places

Dubona and Malo Orašje, between Mladenovac and Smederevo, Serbia

44.4667, 20.7000

View on the map

Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On 4 May 2023, a gunman opened fire from a car in the villages of Dubona and Malo Orašje in Serbia, killing nine people, including an off-duty police officer, and injuring at least thirteen others before fleeing and being arrested the next day near Kragujevac.
Where did the shootings happen?
Dubona and Malo Orašje, between Mladenovac and Smederevo, Serbia.
Who was convicted?
Uroš Blažić (Found guilty on 12 December 2024 of murder, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, kidnapping, and carjacking; sentenced to 20 years in prison; verdict confirmed 20 June 2025.), Blažić's first cousin (First cousin of Uroš Blažić; found guilty of criminal possession of a weapon and sentenced to 18 months in prison; verdict confirmed 8 May 2025. Named person not identified by full name in source.), and Radiša Blažić (Father of Uroš Blažić; found guilty on charges related to criminal possession of a weapon and acts against public safety, sentenced to 20 years in prison; verdict confirmed 20 June 2025.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved. Last verified July 2026.
More cases in Serbia

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICMladenovac and Smederevo shootingsWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — BBC NewsBBC News · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — ReutersReuters · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026
Last verified against sources
JUL 07, 2026