A 75-year-old pensioner gunned down a police officer before turning the gun on himself during a family row in the northern Russian region of Vologda, a police source said.

The police officer, 40, who was called to the pensioner`s house over a report of a domestic dispute late on Monday, was gunned down as he entered the building.

"The officer died at the scene from a head injury," the source said. Shortly after, the pensioner shot himself with the same gun.

The source said the murder weapon used by the pensioner was an unregistered hunting rifle.

An investigation has been launched.
sections: Accidents, Region News
areas: Siberian region