site.btaWanted Prison Escapee Pelov Killed in Shootout in Botevgrad

Sofia, June 6 (BTA) - Wanted prison escapee Vladimir Pelov has been shot dead late on Tuesday in the western town of Blagoevgrad by Mario Panchev, another man with a criminal background, sources familiar with the investigation told BTA on Wednesday.

Pelov, who was serving 30 years for robbery, kidnapping and attempted murder of two police officers, escaped from Sofia's central prison at the beginning of April together with another inmate, Radoslav Kolev, a repeat criminal serving 26 years for murder.

It took the prosecuting magistracy and the Interior Ministry a few hours to confirm the murder victim's identity, since he was not carrying any ID.

The Interior Ministry had announced earlier that there was a shootout in the town late Tuesday, without providing any further details.

Investigating officers said they have found a few handguns and a number of empty bullet casings, which indicates that Pelov and Panchev had been shooting at each other. The possibility of a third shooter is not excluded.

Panchev has been admitted to Sofia's Pirogov emergency hospital in critical condition.