LThe tragedy of Francavilla Fontana found its epilogue with the death of one of the bandits and the capture of the other.
The Carabinieri Chief Brigadier, Carlo Legrottaglie, was killed at dawn today in a shootout in the industrial area of Francavilla Fontana, in the Rosea district, during a chase following a robbery. Legrottaglie, 59, originally from Ostuni and father of two daughters, was on his last day of service before retirement, scheduled for July. One of the two robbers involved, seriously injured, died shortly after being captured, while the other was arrested.
The episode began after a robbery was reported at a petrol station on the outskirts of Francavilla Fontana. The Legrottaglie patrol, on board a “gazzella”, intercepted the criminals’ car, a dark-coloured Lancia Y, starting a high-speed chase. The two cars repeatedly rammed each other, ending up in the countryside between Francavilla Fontana and Grottaglie. Here, at least three robbers got out of the car, splitting up to escape the soldiers.
The two fugitive bandits were caught by the “Falchi”
Legrottaglie chased one of the fugitives, who opened fire on him, fatally hitting him with several gunshots. The brigadier, according to initial reconstructions, returned fire, wounding one of the thugs. Legrottaglie's colleague, in shock, immediately called for reinforcements. The prosecutor on duty, Raffaele Casto, intervened on the spot to coordinate the investigation.
A few hours later, the police captured two robbers in Grottaglie (Taranto), in an operation that culminated in another firefight. One of the two, seriously injured, died, while the other, identified as Michele Mastropietro, 59, from Carosino (Taranto), was arrested and transferred to the Carabinieri barracks in Martina Franca.
Mastropietro, who has a criminal record for serious crimes, including an assault on an armored van in 2013, is now being questioned. It is not yet clear whether the deceased robber was injured during the confrontation with Legrottaglie or in the shootout with police.
The investigations, conducted by police and police under the direction of the Brindisi Public Prosecutor's Office, aim to clarify the exact dynamics of the facts and to identify any accomplices still at large. The community of Francavilla Fontana and Ostuni is in shock over the loss of Legrottaglie, remembered as an exemplary servant of the State.
The Carabinieri expressed their condolences, while messages of solidarity for the victim's family and the colleague who witnessed the tragedy are multiplying.
Article published by Rosaria Federico on June 12, 2025, at 17:07 PM
Comments (1)
Today's tragedy in Francavilla Fontana was truly a hard blow for everyone. You can't imagine the fear that the brigadier and his daughters felt. I hope that justice will be done for him.