Italy: Gunman Kills Three Women In Cafe Shooting

Facts

• 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.
• According to an eyewitness, Campiti came into the cafe, closed the door and shouted, "I'll kill you all," and started shooting. He was reportedly overpowered and disarmed after his semi-automatic weapon jammed.
• In response to the incident, Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri called an emergency security meeting on Monday. Meanwhile, Meloni stated that the shooting range from which the suspect allegedly took the gun had been shut down and placed under investigation.
• This is the second triple homicide in Italy's capital within a month after a possible serial killer stabbed three sex workers to death in the Prati district.
• Italians own an estimated 8.6 million firearms. However, homicides in the country are rare. According to Italy's interior ministry, 319 murders were committed between August 1, 2021, and July 31, 2022.

Sources: BBC News, Ansa, New York Post, Guardian, Agenzia Nova, and New York Times.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Reader's Digest. 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.
• Narrative B, as provided by Italy 24 News. 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.