Andrey Shpagonov was born on September 13, 1969, in Kazan, in the Republic of Tatarstan, then part of the Soviet Union. His early life was unremarkable in public records, but available reports indicate that he was discharged from compulsory military service due to illness, after which he enrolled in a vocational school.

Following graduation, Shpagonov worked briefly in a factory before finding employment with the Tatarstan branch of the State Courier Service, a government security agency. Though considered technically skilled, especially in marksmanship, he was widely regarded as withdrawn, uncommunicative, and a loner. He eventually rose through the ranks due to his shooting ability but began exhibiting signs of misconduct, including allegations of petty theft.

By early 1991, he was dismissed from his courier post for non-compliance and insubordination. He later worked as a security guard in a private furniture store, but this job, too, ended in dismissal for unspecified reasons. During this period, Shpagonov also tried unsuccessfully to launch his own trading business. His financial difficulties and growing resentment toward his former colleagues and employers culminated in the formation of a violent plan to steal firearms.

In December 1991, Shpagonov began planning a raid on the State Courier Service building where he once worked. He recruited his cousin, Dmitri Kovalev, as his getaway driver. Though initially hesitant, Kovalev agreed due to his own financial debts, swayed by Shpagonov’s promise to leave no witnesses behind.

On the night of April 26, 1992, at around 10 p.m., Andrey Shpagonov returned to his former workplace at the State Courier Service in Kazan, armed with a Makarov pistol and a knife. He entered the building through a door that hadn’t closed properly and launched a brutal assault on his former colleagues—most of whom were unarmed and either asleep or intoxicated.

He began on the second floor, where he shot and stabbed a man named Lepuhin. Moving room to room, he murdered Shmelev, also asleep, in the same manner. On the first floor, he executed Komardin, another colleague, then looted all three victims' government-issued weapons. Shortly after, employee Nogaytsev rang the doorbell seeking entry. Shpagonov let him in, only to shoot him in the back of the head. He then entered an administrative office where four women were working. He opened fire, killing three and severely wounding a fourth, Lyalya Forseyeva. One of the women attempted to flee but was caught and murdered outside.

Forseyeva, despite her injuries, managed to lock herself in a room and call the police. Fearing she might not survive, she used her own blood to write Shpagonov's name on the floor as evidence. Hearing footsteps, Shpagonov searched for her but found no one. He returned to the office and discovered that one of the women was still alive. Assuming it was she who had moved, he shot her again in the head.

After collecting 67 firearms and more than 700 rounds of ammunition, he prepared to leave. Just then, the doorbell rang again. Two men, including Sadriev and his driver, had returned from a delivery in Moscow. Shpagonov executed both on sight, then doused the building in gasoline and set it ablaze.

Waiting outside was Kovalev, who, upon seeing flames and chaos, panicked and drove away, abandoning his cousin. Meanwhile, Shpagonov tried to flee using a courier service vehicle, but when it wouldn’t start, he fled on foot, dumping his pistol in a nearby river.

The fire was eventually extinguished, and police discovered the bodies of nine victims and a severely injured Lyalya Forseyeva, who was hospitalized but survived. Her bloody inscription of Shpagonov’s name became a key piece of evidence. Police launched an immediate manhunt. Kovalev was quickly detained and initially lied about his whereabouts, claiming he was at a movie and cafe. After being threatened with charges of complicity in murder, he confessed his role as getaway driver.

Shpagonov remained on the run for eight days. On May 4, 1992, he was arrested in Agryz, following a traceable phone call to his former teacher. He confessed immediately and led authorities to the river where he discarded his weapon.

During trial proceedings, Shpagonov attempted to feign insanity, claiming to hear voices instructing him to kill. However, forensic psychiatric evaluations confirmed he was mentally competent and fully responsible for his actions. He was sentenced to death later that year and filed multiple petitions for clemency, all of which were rejected. On December 13, 1995, Andrey Shpagonov was executed by firing squad in Kazan. Dmitri Kovalev, his cousin and accomplice, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and was released in 2005. His later life remains unknown.