Mauro Antonello

Background

Mauro Antonello was a 40-year-old construction worker, former security guard and gun collector. He had been separated from his wife, Carla Bergamin, for about two years after a bitter breakup. Antonello left a videogaped message for their 7-year-old daughter, who was at school when the slayings occurred, to “explain why you have been left without me”. He also left notes in the trailer he rented last week and where he spent the night before carrying out the massacre.

The offence

Antonello used multiple weapons during a shooting spree in Chieri. The bodies of three men and five women were found in two adjacent apartments in Chieri, about 10 miles south of Turin. Witnesses said the shooting began at about 8:45 a.m. local time and within 10 minutes eight people were on the ground. Police and reports said he shot and killed his ex-wife, her mother, her brother, his brother-in-law and his sister-in-law, as well as three neighbours. A witness described the body of one victim, apparently a woman, still lying in a rear garden more than four hours later. Antonello vaulted into the garden of the neighbouring house after killing the wife’s mother and brother and his sister-in-law. At least two victims were killed in a small textile workshop belonging to the Bergamin family attached to the neighbouring house, and at least one other victim was gunned down in the garden. The massacre lasted less than two minutes. Antonello fired about 100 bullets during the spree and then turned one of the weapons on himself. Italian reports said he had permits for all of the weapons used.

Investigation

Carabinieri paramilitary police officer Col. Filippo Ricciarelli said the bodies were found in two adjacent apartments in Chieri. Provincial police chief Niccolo Paratore told reporters that all the weapons used by Antonello were legally held and licensed. Police said Antonello identified as a gun enthusiast had waited until Carla Bergamin returned from taking their 7-year-old daughter to the school bus, before shooting her as she climbed into her car to go to work. Neighbours said Antonello was wearing a dark jacket and that after the first shots they took cover. A witness said Antonello ran between the two houses holding the guns, bent close to the ground with a baseball cap pulled down over his face. Another witness said Antonello fired 30 or 40 times, noticed too late to stop him, and that after a final shot everything went silent before the carabinieri and ambulances arrived. Witness statements included:

• Battista Cappa, a 71-year-old neighbour, said: “I saw a man shooting and a woman falling to the ground, he had a dark jacket and after the first shots I took cover in my house, there was a lot of shooting,” and also said: “He had a dark jacket on and after the first shots, I went back inside my home out of fear.”
• Giovanni Griva told reporters: “I saw the man run between the two houses. He was bent close to the ground holding the guns,” and said: “He fired 30, 40 times, but I noticed too late to stop him.” He further said: “When I heard the first shots, I thought he was shooting with a pistol to scare off pigeons.” He added: “I was shaving and when I noticed that the shooting wasn't stopping, I went to the window and saw this crazy man. It lasted around three to five minutes. Then he went into his house.” He concluded: “There was a final shot and then everything went silent. Then, more or less immediately, the carabinieri and the ambulances arrived.”

Arrest

No arrest was described.

Trial

No trial was described.

Sentencing

No sentencing was described.

Outcome

Antonello died after apparently shooting himself in the head. One report said Antonello’s next victims included two old-aged pensioners who had run out to assist the woman. The gunman then killed himself.

Aftermath

The shootings horrified the town of Chieri, described as a relatively well-off suburb of about 32,000 people near Turin. Reports described the killings as part of a series of domestic slayings and as a later episode of small-town family slayings that shocked Italians. A witness reaction included:

• Andrea De Stefani, a 15-year-old, asked: “I’m shocked, all those people shot. What can you say?”
• Mario Verniano, who worked at a gas station a few yards from Bergamin’s house, said: “This is a small village where everybody knows everybody. We’re tranquil people,” and “I used to see them. I still can't believe it happened,” Antonello had driven a hired camper-van to his ex-wife’s house, wearing a flak jacket and carrying four firearms hidden in the van. Antonello left the following note to the people he would shoot: “I kill you because I love you,” and the La Stampa report quoted his message as: “It was all mom's fault. It was she who didn't want to go back with me, who didn't want to reunite our family.” Another note attributed to Antonello was: “I must wake up at five. I must remember to take my anti-panic-attack pills. I must be very relaxed and calm.” A report described Antonello’s unemployed status and that he had downed excessive amounts of camomile tea to calm his nerves the previous Tuesday morning.