Four people were rushed to hospital on Sunday after a man opened fire on his former partner and her family in Lupeni, Hunedoara county, prompting a nationwide manhunt. The attack unfolded in the early hours of 7 June 2026 in a residential area of the mining town, where the 38-year-old suspect allegedly fired multiple shots at the group before fleeing the scene. Police confirmed that all four victims—aged between 22 and 54—sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were stabilised at the county hospital. The suspect, whose identity has not been released, is armed and considered highly dangerous.
Emergency services were alerted shortly after 03:15 local time. Officers from Lupeni police station, supported by county tactical units, sealed off streets and launched a door-to-door search. Interior Minister Sorin Grindeanu told reporters the manhunt involved drones, thermal imaging, and roadblocks on the E79 and DN66 highways. “This individual poses an immediate threat to public safety,” Grindeanu said. “We are appealing to anyone with information to come forward immediately.”
Neighbours described hearing rapid gunfire followed by screams. “It sounded like a war zone,” said a resident who asked not to be named. “We called the police straight away.” Local officials confirmed the suspect and victims had been in a long-running dispute over child custody and financial assets, a pattern familiar in domestic violence cases that escalate to lethal force. Hunedoara police spokeswoman Inspector Ioana Munteanu said the shooter used a 9mm pistol registered to a third party, raising concerns about illegal firearms trafficking in the region.
The attack comes amid rising tensions in Romania’s mining belt, where economic decline has fuelled domestic disputes and petty crime. Last month, authorities dismantled a gun-smuggling ring operating between Petroșani and Deva, seizing 17 firearms and 300 rounds of ammunition. Interior Ministry data show firearm-related incidents in Hunedoara rose 18% in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the victims remain in stable condition. The 22-year-old daughter of the former partner underwent surgery for a grazing bullet wound to the shoulder, while the 54-year-old grandmother suffered a fractured rib after falling during the chaos. Hospital director Dr. Radu Popescu said all four were expected to be discharged within 48 hours.
Police have appealed for dash-cam footage and doorbell camera recordings from the area around Strada Livezilor and Strada Minerilor. A 24-hour hotline has been set up: 0254-999-111. The manhunt continues as authorities warn the public not to approach the suspect, who is believed to be wearing a dark hoodie and carrying a backpack.