Naples. It was purely a fluke that yet another innocent victim of the madness of convicted gunmen didn't fall victim to the violence. This happened in San Giovanni a Teduccio, where a 46-year-old convicted felon with ties to local gangs shot his six-year-old daughter with a pistol.
The failed tragedy occurred in the home of San Giovanni a Teduccio: the man was arrested by the agents of the flying squad. It was a lightning investigation that ended after a series of unlikely stories and in a climate of evident silence.
The man was arrested and transferred to prison on charges of negligent assault and illegal possession of firearms, aggravated by mafia methods. The investigation began after a report, made by the health personnel of the Villa Betania Hospital in Ponticelli, regarding a seven-year-old minor who arrived at that hospital with a gunshot wound to the shoulder, with a retained bullet.
The mother had spoken of an accident, claiming that her daughter had been hit by a stray bullet while playing in the garden with friends. However, the investigations of the State Police soon cast doubt on this version. Inspections and testimonies led the investigators to focus on the family's home.
Inside the apartment, a clear mark on the wall confirmed the investigators' suspicions. The mother, pressed by the officers' questions, admitted that the shot had been fired accidentally from her husband's gun, while he was in the dining room. The bullet had passed through a wall, hitting the child in the next room.
The father showed up at the house after a brief escape and was arrested
The father, initially unavailable, later turned himself in, confirming his wife's version. The man was arrested on charges of negligent assault and illegal possession of firearms, aggravated by the mafia method.
An episode that turns the spotlight back on the serious problem of illegal possession and use of weapons within the home. An act of imprudence that had dramatic consequences, underlining the importance of greater vigilance and more severe legislation on the matter.
It is sad to know that there are situations like this, where children are involved in acts of violence. I hope there is a change in the law to prevent similar incidents in the future. The safety of minors must be a priority.