Erminio Criscione

Spree killer

6known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: Switzerland
Location: Rivera, Origlio and Massagno , Canton of Ticino, Switzerland
Date of birth: 1965
Age at first offence: 27
Characteristics: revenge, murder-suicide
Victim profile: Coworkers and their relatives
Method of murder: Shooting (Kalashnikov automatic assault rifle)
Date(s) of murder: March 5, 1992
Years active: 1992
Date of arrest: Same day
Status: Died in custody
Committed suicide by hanging himself in his jail cell on March 7, 1992

Case Summary

Case record: Erminio Criscione

Background

Erminio Criscione, 37, was in Lugano, Switzerland. He was on a wholesale meat suppliers training course when he snapped.

The offence

On the morning of March 5, 1992, Criscione left early one morning with his Kalashnikov automatic assault rifle. He visited his best friend and co-worker and rang the doorbell. When his target answered the door, Criscione shot him in both legs. No words were said, and Criscione then left.

Criscione then travelled to another co-worker’s house, where he shot and killed four members of the one family. He also injured three others in this family.

He went on to kill two more workmates before reaching his final destination, his boss’s place. His boss was not home, but his wife was. She was shot in the legs and Criscione told her: "Tell him I'll be back".

Criscione later surrendered to police in tears after his rampage. Police surrounded him, and there were over 100 armed police surrounding him.

Criscione killed six people and wounded six others. Police described it as a door-to-door rampage in the villages of Rivera, Origlio and Massagno in southern Switzerland.

Investigation

Police said the rampage was a two-hour spree. Police identified the gunman as Erminio Criscione.

The district attorney ordered an autopsy.

Arrest and custody

Criscione was jailed since the Wednesday rampage in the villages of Rivera, Origlio and Massagno near Lugano.

Police said Criscione used the time when his guards were being changed Monday evening to tie a linen cloth to his window bars.

Trial

No trial information was provided.

Sentencing

No sentencing information was provided.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

Criscione committed suicide by hanging himself in his jail cell.

Aftermath

The district attorney ordered an autopsy after his death.

Timeline

March 5, 1992 — Criscione began a door-to-door rampage in the villages of Rivera, Origlio and Massagno, killing six people and wounding six others.
March 7, 1992 — Criscione committed suicide by hanging himself in his jail cell.
March 10, 1992 — Police in Lugano said Criscione had committed suicide, hanging himself in his jail cell.

Verbatim quotations

The wife of Criscione’s boss, after being shot in the legs, was told: "Tell him I'll be back".

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