An Italian right-wing councillor has been arrested for shooting dead a homeless migrant on a town square.
Ex-policeman and lawyer Massimo Adriatici, 47, who is the public safety and security councillor for the municipality of Voghera in the Italian province of Pavia, has been put under house arrest for shooting Youns El Boussetaoui, 39, a homeless migrant from Morocco, at Voghera’s Piazza Francesco Meardi on 20th July.
According to local reports, El Boussetaoui approached a group of people at a bar on the square and started bothering them. Adriatici, who was walking on the square at the time, argued with the migrant and then decided to call the police.
When El Boussetaoui overheard the call, he hit the former cop who then fell to the ground.
While on the ground, the councillor’s gun, which has a permit, went off and the Moroccan migrant was struck in the chest, according to local media.
Adriatici reportedly said the gunshot was an accidental discharge caused by the fall.
However, another Moroccan resident who was nearby at the time said: “The Italian man did not shoot by accident. He took out the gun, pointed it at Youns and fired the shot that killed him.
“I saw the Italian man talking on the phone. Youns pushed him and he fell to the ground on his back. At that point, while lying down, he took out the gun and fired a shot.
“After being hit, Youns ran away with his hand on his stomach and then fell to the ground.”
According to reports, Adriatici is a member of the right-wing political party Lega Nord, known for its opposition to illegal immigration.
Meanwhile, local residents said the homeless victim was often seen in the area, walking in front of the bar several times a day and begging for change.
Adriatici is being held under house arrest in a secret location after pictures of his home started circulating on social media.
He is quoted as saying that the incident has left him “heartbroken and destroyed”.
His lawyers Colette Gazzaniga and Gabriele Pipicelli referred to him as an urban legend who walked around with a gun to defend his city.
The investigation continues.
