2026 Fort Lauderdale–Sarasota shootings

On February 10, 2026, 51-year-old Russell Kot fatally shot a former romantic partner and her son in the Victoria Park neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Kot then drove to the Amberlea neighborhood of Bee Ridge, near Sarasota, where he entered the home of his former partner's parents and fatally shot her brother and a family friend. Her mother and father arrived at the home after the initial shooting and were fatally shot in front of the home by the gunman before Kot died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In total, seven people were killed, including the perpetrator. The gunman's motive is currently unknown.

Attack

During the morning hours of February 10, Kot gunned down two people inside a home in the Victoria Park neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, before leaving the area with his vehicle. Kot drove across the state to the small community area of Bee Ridge, located southeast of Sarasota, where surveillance video from neighbors and the Amberlea homeowners association showing Kot entering the neighborhood just after 11:00 a.m. that morning. He got out of his car, entered the front door of one of the houses, and opened fire on four family members, [...] them, before the shooter took his own life from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Victims

The two victims in the Fort Lauderdale shooting were identified as 46-year-old Larisa Blyudaya and her 18-year-old son Ben Azizov. Blyudaya and Kot had previously been in a romantic relationship. The victims in the Bee Ridge shooting were identified as Blyudaya's parents; Anatoly Ioffe, aged 61, and Florita Stolyar, aged 66, her brother Yaroslav Blyudoy, aged 39, and a family friend, Olga Greinert, aged 49.

Perpetrator

Police identified the perpetrator as 51-year-old Russell Kot (August 5, 1974 – February 10, 2026), a Chicago, Illinois resident who lived in Fort Lauderdale at the time of the shooting. Investigators confirmed that Kot lived in Chicago for most of his life until the fall of 2025.

Investigation

Investigators confirmed that Kot had a romantic relationship with one of the Fort Lauderdale victims, while the connection to the Bee Ridge victims remains unconfirmed. As of February 12, homicide detectives are continuing their investigation. On February 13, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office released more information following the aftermath of the Fort Lauderdale [...], saying that Kot texted a [...] message to members of his family out in Bee Ridge before driving to the Sarasota community and [...] the family members there.

Crime Scene Analysts confirmed that they recovered more than 20 shell casings inside the Bee Ridge residence. A review by investigators looked into Kot's cellphone records and revealed that there is no apparent "triggering event" prior to the [...]. Investigators also confirmed that Kot appeared to have stayed with the family in Bee Ridge in the months leading up to the incident.

Reactions

The Sandy Hook Promise released a statement that condemned the shooting.

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