. It's a sad story to be sure, but why is it garnering international headlines? Mostly because, by all accounts, it seems to be the first time anyone in Iceland can remember police ever shooting and killing someone. Yes, you read that right: ever.

The BBC has the broad outlines of the apparent fatal first: Police responded this morning to reports of a man firing his shotgun inside his Reykjavik home. After he continued shooting as authorities attempted to contact him, officers fired tear gas into his apartment and then proceeded to enter the apartment building, at which point the man allegedly opened fire again, injuring two members of the special forces in the process (one was struck in the face, the other in the hand). Police then responded with deadly force.