A 76-year-old man has been arrested by the Carabinieri (Italian police) in Catania, Italy, after attempting to murder a 55-year-old man with three gunshots over a public insult. The incident occurred in Misterbianco, a town in the province of Catania. The victim of the attack sustained non-serious injuries.
The Carabinieri of Catania Fontanarossa were able to identify and apprehend the suspect within a few hours. The 76-year-old man, who faces charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm in a public place, is currently being held in custody.
The victim, who was transported to the San Marco Hospital in Catania, is no longer in life-threatening condition. According to witnesses, the attacker, who was driving his car, spotted the 55-year-old man walking down the same street. After parking his car, the attacker followed the victim on foot, pulled out a gun from his pocket, and fired three shots before fleeing the scene in his vehicle.
Surveillance footage and witness accounts led the Carabinieri to identify the suspect, who was located on Via Zia Lisa. The man, still in his Fiat Panda, realized he was surrounded by police patrols and did not resist arrest.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the attempted murder stemmed from an argument that occurred last month, during which the 76-year-old man was allegedly publicly insulted.
The Carabinieri are continuing their investigation to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.