Russian teen lovers livestream themselves shooting at police before committing suicide

Two Russian teenagers livestreamed themselves shooting at police officers on Periscope before being found dead.

The boy, named by local media as Denis, and his girlfriend, Katya, both 15, filmed themselves firing guns at officers on the social-media app. The shoot-out was watched by dozens of their friends, according to media reports.

Special forces stormed the house in the village of Strugi Krasnyye in the western Pskov region to find the teenagers had shot themselves.

Before the shooting, Denis posted photographs on Instagram showing guns, ammunition, walkie-talkies and dollar bills. They also left goodbye messages to friends and family.

In the Periscope recording, Denis can be heard laughing while he fires at police from the upper storey of a house. Bottles of alcohol are visible in the recording.

Katya said they had acquired the guns from a safe in the cottage, which belonged to her stepfather, a former member of the military. The pair fled their homes three days previously after an argument with her mother, she said, during which Denis shot her in the leg with an air pistol.

Denis said in the footage: "If we don't surrender, we die. But if we surrender, we will never see each other again."

In a statement, Russian police said officers had not returned fire and had tried to persuade the pair to give themselves up. When they stormed the house, they found "clear signs of suicide".

The Samaritans provides a free support service for those who need to talk to someone in the UK and Republic of Ireland. It can be contacted via Samaritans.org or by calling 116 123 (UK) or 116 123 (ROI), 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.