Deadly Scuffle in St. Petersburg Mall Leads to Man's Death

The conflict that led to the visitor«s death took place at the City Mall shopping and entertainment complex on Kolomyazhsky Prospekt. 24-year-old Dmitry was taken to the hospital in a state of clinical death and died several hours later.

Events at the Perekrestok Store

According to surveillance camera recordings, security suspected the young man of not paying for goods. When employees demanded he return the items, Dmitry refused to open his backpack and began to resist.

During the conflict, he grabbed an object resembling a pistol. Seeing this, three security guards became more active: after a short scuffle, they pinned the man to the floor. Two of them held him down, pressing on his back.

Witnesses heard Dmitry shouting: «People, help, I»m suffocating!« The arriving rapid response team tried to revive him with smelling salts, but the attempts were unsuccessful.

Detentions and Search for Escaped Security Guard

Police brought in two security employees from Perekrestok, aged 19 and 64, as well as an 18-year-old cleaner from a fast-food outlet located in the complex. Another security guard, a 32-year-old man, managed to escape through a back door and is currently being sought. According to the investigation, he was the one who pressed down on the victim.

Security services at the store are provided by the private security company Petersburg-Bezopasnost. The prosecutor«s office of the Primorsky District is already conducting an inspection of this private security organization. The company claims that the visitor had a pistol from which he fired at least four shots, although police and the Investigative Committee reported only the use of an aerosol canister.

A representative of the management company X5, which owns the Perekrestok chain, stated: «We are aware of the situation and are conducting an internal investigation, assisting law enforcement to clarify all circumstances of the incident.»

Who Was the Deceased

Dmitry was a native of Astrakhan and had recently moved to St. Petersburg. According to his ex-girlfriend, he worked as a sailor, traveled extensively, and had an explosive temperament. «Dima was into sports. His character — yes, explosive. But I never thought it would lead to this,» she said.

On his social media, the young man shared rap music and videos, including ones with shooting from a flare gun.

Criminal Case Opened

The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case for causing death through negligence. The exact cause of death is being determined by a forensic medical examination. The head of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for St. Petersburg, Pavel Vymenets, gave orders for the investigation, and a report on its progress is awaited by the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin.