Death Case in Mall Reclassified as Murder

The Investigative Committee has reclassified the criminal case concerning the death of a visitor at the City Mall shopping and entertainment complex in St. Petersburg. Initially, the security guards« actions were considered as causing death by negligence, but now they are charged with murder committed by a group.

The decision to reclassify was made based on the conclusion of a forensic medical examination. According to the document, 24-year-old Dmitry died from mechanical asphyxia, which occurred when he was pressed to the floor during detention. Two security guards have currently been detained.

The incident occurred on 21 January at the Perekryostok supermarket located in the mall. The young man was stopped at the exit on suspicion of not paying for goods. In response, he used an aerosol device, after which the guards knocked him to the floor: one lay on top, the other pressed on his back.

By the time the rapid response group arrived, the victim was unconscious. He was attempted to be resuscitated and taken to the hospital in a state of clinical death, but he could not be saved. A third guard, a 32-year-old foreigner, who, according to preliminary investigation data, was directly pressing the man, fled the scene.

In connection with the incident, the police together with Rosgvardiya (the National Guard of Russia) have launched a large-scale inspection of all Perekryostok chain stores in St. Petersburg. The inspection measures began on 23 January.