A man in Florida, who is accused of fatally shooting six individuals in a violent spree across two locations in Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale before turning the gun on himself, has been identified by authorities.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the suspect, 51-year-old Russell Kot, had previously been romantically involved with one of the victims in Fort Lauderdale. This victim was connected to those killed in Sarasota.
Deputies responded to a 911 call early Tuesday afternoon reporting a man had been shot in Sarasota’s Amberlea neighborhood. When they arrived, neighbors were performing CPR on the victim in the front yard. The injured man was then taken to the Sarasota County Fire Department, where he was ultimately pronounced dead, as confirmed by the sheriff’s office.
Concerned for the safety of the victim’s wife, deputies entered the home and discovered four more deceased adults inside—two women and two men.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office was seen on the scene of the tragic incident in Sarasota, Florida, on Tuesday, February 10.
While working to identify the victims and the possible suspect, detectives received a tip from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department (FLPD). They were investigating a double homicide and suspected it was linked to the Sarasota case. The FLPD provided details about a suspect vehicle, noting that it was seen on camera traveling north through Punta Gorda after the Fort Lauderdale homicides and before the Sarasota shootings occurred.
“Detectives worked with Amberlea HOA representatives and neighbors, and were able to recover video of the suspect’s vehicle entering the neighborhood at 11:01 a.m. The sound of gunfire was captured shortly after on a neighbor’s Ring camera. Approximately 37 minutes later, the male victim, who was found in the front lawn, was captured entering the neighborhood in his vehicle. The victim approached the front door where he was shot,” deputies also said.
Kot was found dead inside the Sarasota home, according to the sheriff’s office.
It identified the other victims there as Olga Greinert, 49, Florita Stolyar, 66, Anatoly Ioffe, 61 and Yaroslav Blyudoy, 39.
Authorities say six people are dead after a shooting in a gated community in Sarasota, Fla., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, that was connected to another in Fort Lauderdale earlier the same day. (FOX 13 Tampa)
“Based on our preliminary investigation, it appears that the suspect died of self-inflicted wounds, and there are no known documented mental health crises nor history of violence associated with him,” the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office said. “The suspect’s motivation for targeting the Sarasota victims is unknown.”
The victims in the Fort Lauderdale shooting, which happened in the Victoria Park neighborhood, were identified as Larisa Blyudaya, 48, and Ben Azivov, 18, according to NBC Miami.
Joe Askerberg, the property manager of the home where those victims were found, told the station that they were a mother and son.
“Gutted obviously for the whole family involved,” Askerberg said to NBC Miami. “Larisa was so bubbly and never negative; she was always in good spirits.”
The suspect in both shootings was identified as Russell Kot, 51. (FOX 13 Tampa)
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
