Russell Kot

Mass Murderer

Russell Kot and the 2026 Fort Lauderdale-Sarasota Mass Killing

Overview

Russell Kot, a 51-year-old man who had recently moved from Illinois to Florida, was identified by law-enforcement authorities as the gunman responsible for killing six people in two connected attacks on February 10, 2026. The shootings occurred more than 200 miles apart, beginning at a residence in Fort Lauderdale and continuing later that day at a family home in Sarasota County. Kot was found dead at the second crime scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, bringing the total number of fatalities to seven. The victims were members of one extended family and a woman who worked for the family. Investigators determined that Kot had previously been romantically involved with Larisa Blyudaya, one of the Fort Lauderdale victims. Kot and Blyudaya had reportedly lived together after he relocated to Fort Lauderdale in the fall of 2025, but their relationship ended near the close of that year. Authorities continued to investigate whether the breakup contributed to the violence, although detectives said they found no single event in Kot's recent phone activity that clearly explained why he launched the attacks.

The Fort Lauderdale Double Homicide

The first killings occurred on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, inside a home in the Victoria Park neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale. Police later went to the residence in the 500 block of Northeast 15th Avenue to conduct a well-being check. Inside, officers found 46-year-old Larisa Blyudaya and her 18-year-old son, Ben Azizov, dead from gunshot wounds. Authorities said Kot had been in a previous romantic relationship with Blyudaya and had lived with her before their separation. Investigators believe Kot entered the residence and killed Blyudaya and her son before leaving Fort Lauderdale in his vehicle. The precise time of the killings was not immediately announced, but surveillance evidence later placed Kot and his vehicle traveling toward Florida's Gulf Coast before the Sarasota County attack. The deaths of Blyudaya and Azizov were not initially known to Sarasota County deputies when they responded to the second crime scene. The connection became clear after Fort Lauderdale detectives contacted Sarasota investigators and reported that Kot's vehicle and the victims appeared to be linked to the multiple deaths in both cities.

The Drive Across Florida

After killing Blyudaya and Azizov, Kot traveled more than 200 miles across Florida to the Amberlea neighborhood in Sarasota County. The Sarasota residence, located on Fallcrest Circle, belonged to members of Blyudaya's family. Investigators said Kot was familiar with the property and had either stayed there or cared for the family's animals during the months before the shootings. Surveillance footage showed Kot's vehicle entering the gated neighborhood at approximately 11:00 a.m. Shortly afterward, a nearby doorbell camera recorded the sound of gunfire. Authorities determined that Kot entered the residence carrying two handguns and encountered Yaroslav "Stan" Blyudoy, Blyudaya's 39-year-old brother, and Olga Greinert, the family's 49-year-old housekeeper. Kot shot Blyudoy and Greinert multiple times inside the home. Crime-scene analysts later recovered more than 20 spent shell casings from the residence. Detectives said each of the Sarasota victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds, demonstrating the sustained and deliberate nature of the attack. ...

Confirmed Victims: (7)

Larisa Blyudaya 46 yr old Male

Sarasota families and friends remember victims in cross ...