In September 1991, Tepić was tasked with defending an ammunition storage in the village of Hrgovljani just outside Bjelovar. After the defeat of the city's defenders in the Siege of Bjelovar Barracks, Tepić ordered the evacuation of the storage facility while staying behind himself. He then detonated an explosive charge to prevent the capture of the stored ammunition, weapons, and other equipment, killing himself and eleven Croatian soldiers in the process.[1]