Moment assassin disguised as Santa poses for selfie with unsuspecting target – before pulling out gun and opening fire
THIS is the shocking moment a man dressed as Santa shot and killed the police officer who jailed him in a revenge assassination, according to reports.
Yuriy Surakin, 54, was shot moments after posing for a selfie with the alleged gunman.
Although working as a shopkeeper, reports say Yuriy was a former police officer and had been responsible for jailing the man dressed as Russian Father Christmas – commonly known as Grandfather Frost.
The Russian Investigative Committee said it was exploring the possibility the murder was linked to “the victim’s debt to the suspect”, and called it an “act of revenge”.
The shooting in Kanash town in the Chuvashia region, south-west Russia, came ahead of Orthodox Christmas Day on Tuesday January 7.
CCTV shows the fake Santa entering Beryozka household electrical goods store.
He had the firearm hidden under his red outfit, according to investigators.
The shopkeeper can be seen holding his phone up to snap a selfie with the man.
The selfies taken of the victim and murderer were later found on Yuriy’s phone.
The suspect then turns away, as if browsing the items on sale whilst the shopkeeper walks back to his counter.
Then the suspect walks over to the desk and shoots the unsuspecting man at point-blank range.
He immediately exits the store holding a long object, said to be the gun.
Cops today tracked down and detained the suspect in a village in Chuvashia region, who had been on the run for less than a day.
During the manhunt “wanted” images were circulated of the alleged killer.
The appeal for information said: “The suspect is of stocky build, about 180 cm [5ft 11] tall.
“He was wearing a red Santa Claus costume and white felt boots.
“He had a white beard and transparent glasses.”
Footage of the crime scene shows a cordon up inside a shop crammed full of goods.
Investigators can be seen gathering evidence from behind the counter when the shopkeeper was allegedly murdered.
The suspect will be held in custody on suspicion of murder.
Bad News channel reported that father-of-seven Yuriy, who was also a grandfather, “previously put the shooter behind bars”.
“After being released, the man decided to take revenge,” the channel reported.