The victims, which included elderly Chechen World War II (WWII) veterans and at least three (four according to the Ingush commission[17]) ethnic Russians,[18] were usually executed by shooting at close range or killed with grenades in the basements, but some were beaten to death. Several of the other victims were apparently burned alive or shot while trying to escape the burning houses. Of the remaining deceased, 29 were established to having been killed by possibly combat-related causes (such as artillery and tank fire, conducted since the night of April 6, or armoured vehicle fire).