Ljubiša Bogdanović was born in 1953 in the village of Velika Ivanča, Serbia. His early life was marked by tragedy and hardship. When he was still a child, his father died by suicide, leaving Ljubiša and his brother Radmilo to be raised by their grandfather Obrad. Known for his strictness, Obrad reportedly disciplined Ljubiša harshly, creating a difficult and rigid upbringing.

As an adult, Bogdanović served as a soldier during the Croatian War of Independence, spending approximately four and a half months in combat. Since 1981, he legally owned a firearm, a common practice for veterans in the region. Ljubiša and his son Branko worked at a Slovenian wood-processing factory in Mladenovac until 2012 when both lost their jobs. The job loss brought financial strain and reportedly deepened tensions within the family.

Bogdanović’s personal life was troubled. Reports suggested a history of domestic violence and ongoing conflict with his son, particularly over Branko’s romantic relationship, which Ljubiša strongly disapproved of. The family also had a background of mental health struggles; aside from his father’s suicide, a cousin and an uncle suffered from mental illnesses, with the uncle eventually dying in a mental institution. Despite these issues, Ljubiša himself was never formally diagnosed with a mental disorder.

In the early hours of April 9, 2013, around 5:00 a.m. CEST, Ljubiša Bogdanović carried out one of Serbia’s deadliest mass shootings. Armed with a CZ-88 9mm pistol, he first turned on his own family. Inside his home, he shot and killed his 83-year-old mother, Dobrila, and his 42-year-old son, Branko. His wife, Javorka, was shot in the head but survived, critically injured.

After the initial murders, Bogdanović left his home and moved through four neighboring houses in the village of Velika Ivanča. Over the course of his spree, he killed five men, five women, and a two-year-old child. Many victims were shot in their sleep, struck in the head without warning.

Police arrived after a desperate call from his wounded wife. When they reached the Bogdanović residence, officers found Ljubiša in the backyard. As they approached, he shot himself in the head in an attempt to avoid capture.

Twelve of his victims died on the scene, while one more succumbed to injuries later that day at a Belgrade hospital. Both Bogdanović and his wife were transported to the hospital in critical condition. Two days later, on April 11, 2013, Ljubiša Bogdanović died from his self-inflicted wound.

The Serbian government responded by convening a special cabinet meeting and declaring April 10, 2013, a national day of mourning. The massacre shocked the nation, prompting discussions about firearm regulations, mental health awareness, and post-war trauma among veterans.