This young woman has been shot dead in the street by her ex-boyfriend who she had reported to the authorities for stalking her and he then took his own life after police launched a manhunt.

The shocking incident took place in the town of Aci Trezza, near the Italian comune of Trecastagni in southern Sicily, in southern Italy, when the young woman, who has been named by Italian media as Vanessa Zappala, 26, was shot dead by her stalker ex-boyfriend Antonino Sciuto, 38.

She was murdered in the street while she was walking with friends and after a manhunt, the Italian police found her murderer hanged from a wall at a farmhouse in the Trigona district, which was owned by a family member of his.

Sciuto was a car dealer and the police found a rented Fiat 500 that he had used to go to Aci Trezza to commit the crime. The authorities also retrieved and illegally owned 7.65 calibre handgun, also believed to have been used in the murder.

Sciuto was arrested in June and put under house arrest by a judge but he was then released by the investigating judge who changed the terms of his restrictions to a restraining order.

This did not stop the stalker ex-boyfriend, who went to meet Vanessa, apparently to discuss the end of their relationship.

But their discussion became heated and they argued, with him then pulling out the firearm and firing several shots, one of which fatally hit Vanessa in the head. One of her friends was also hit in the shoulder by a bullet.

After her murder, the suspect fled as a manhunt was launched to track him down. On the wall where they found the suspect’s corpse, the police also found an apology note written to his parents and his family members.

The mayor of Aci Trezza, Giuseppe Massina, has proclaimed that the town is officially in mourning