A glamorous Russian TV presenter was shot dead by her estranged husband as the couple's nine-year-old son watched on in horror.

Zhanna Veber, 29, was gunned down at close range by Anatoly Leontikov, 36, during a row over custody of their son, Dmitry.

Ms Veber, a popular television personality in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia, was killed by an air rifle, according to police.

She was treated by paramedics, but died on the way to hospital.

Zhanna Veber, 29, was gunned down at close range by Anatoly Leontikov, 36, during a row over custody of their son, Dmitry

TV presenter Ms Veber with her husband Anatoly and their nine-year-old son Dmitry

Leontikov fled the scene with the couple's son, taking him to stay with his family before going on the run. He later gave himself up to police.

Ms Veber split from Leontikov two years ago but the pair were not officially divorced, reports claim.

He arrived at her house and they argued over his access to the Dmitry, which Ms Veber had tried to limit.

Leontikov had been away working as a builder on construction sites near Moscow and when he returned, he had moved into her home for a while, but later left.

On December 26, he returned and 'broke a window' to gain access, an unnamed friend claimed.

'After she died, he took the boy to his relatives', they added.

Ms Veber was gunned down at close range with an air rifle, according to police reports

Ms Veber was killed while arguing with her husband over custody of their son Dmitry (both pictured)

The friend said Zhanna was 'ambitious' and had 'big plans for her life'.

She 'wanted to move to a big city' while he 'worked as a foreman building houses'.

Leontikov was a former policeman who had a permit to carry the air gun, the friend said.

Ms Veber's station - Laba TV - ran a broadcast paying tribute to her life.