Gunman kills 3 women in coffee shop, including friend of Italy's prime minister: "It is not right to die like this"
CBSDec 24, 2022
On Sunday, a gunman opened fire at a cafe in Rome's Fidene district killing three women. The deceased were identified as Elisabetta Silenzi, Sabina Sperandio, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's friend Nicoletta Golisano. The attack also injured four people, one of whom was in critical condition.
57-year-old Claudio Campiti is suspected of having fired at the meeting of apartment block residents. Campiti had allegedly long been at odds with the management of the apartment, but police are yet to comment on the motive.
This tragedy could have been prevented if more decisive action had been taken. The gunman had been unstable since the death of his 14-year-old son in 2012, reportedly acting aggressively against the Valleverde Consortium of which he was part. Other members had denounced him to authorities over threats and nothing was ever done.
This tragic event is an exception to the remarkable fact that Italy has a gun culture, but does not experience mass shootings. Sensible regulations and restrictions mean that Italy's population — unlike, for instance, the US — is largely safe from mass shooting violence.