Pompeii: Bandit shoots betting shop owner; manhunt underway

Minutes of terror unfolded on Via Plinio, a short distance from the main entrance to the Pompeii excavations. A lone robber, arriving on a scooter, broke into a betting shop, pointing a gun at the owner to demand the takings.

Faced with hesitation from the manager—a 39-year-old man—the attacker didn't hesitate to pull the trigger: a gunshot grazed the 39-year-old in the foot. Having grabbed the money, the attacker jumped back on his moped, making his way through traffic and disappearing.

The rescue and the rush to the emergency room

Emergency services were immediately alerted. Emergency medical services arrived on the scene and provided first aid to the manager, who remained conscious despite his wounds and shock. The man was subsequently transported to the emergency room of San Leonardo Hospital in Castellammare di Stabia: his condition is not life-threatening.

The investigation: cameras and testimonies under scrutiny

State Police officers from the Pompeii Police Station, led by Deputy Commissioner Giuseppe Nicotera, responded to the scene of the attack. Investigators immediately cordoned off the area for the necessary investigations and began a search to identify the robber.

Investigators are currently focusing on acquiring video surveillance footage from both the betting shop and public and private facilities in the area. Analysis of the footage and comparison with witness statements will help reconstruct the exact route taken by the scooter before and after the attack, helping to narrow down the perpetrator.