Shooting in Sanità District: Two Young Men Injured, One Critical
Naples, January 18 – Another act of violence has stained the historic center of Naples. Two young men, aged 19 and 20, were injured in a shooting incident that occurred in the early hours of Friday morning in Vico Lammatari, located in the heart of the Sanità district. The assailants, reportedly on a scooter, opened fire at close range shortly after 3:00 AM.
Victims’ Conditions and Hospitalization
The more seriously injured victim is 19-year-old Raffaele P., a resident of Giugliano. He suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, with dorsal involvement. Rushed to Vecchio Pellegrini Hospital, he was stabilized in the emergency room before being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. His condition is described as critical, and medical personnel state he is in life-threatening danger.
The second victim, 20-year-old Antonio M., a resident of the Sanità district, sustained less severe injuries. He has a gunshot wound to the middle third of his left arm, with both entry and exit wounds. Also admitted to Pellegrini Hospital, he was discharged around 6:00 AM. However, due to severe pain, he returned to the hospital several hours later, around 10:00 AM, and remains under observation.
Investigation Underway and Increased Security Measures
The prefect of Naples, Michele di Bari, has convened a meeting of the Provincial Committee for Public Order and Security and announced reinforced territorial control measures following the incident.
The Mobile Squad of the police is leading the investigation, meticulously reviewing surveillance footage from the area to reconstruct the dynamics of the event and identify those responsible. At present, no hypothesis is being ruled out.
Initial theories suggest the shooting may be linked to conflicts between small local gangs comprising young people. The scene of the shooting was described as a “war zone,” with numerous bullet casings found. A parked Smart car also had its rear window struck by a bullet. The possibility of a targeted ambush remains a strong consideration for investigators.
Rising Tensions and Past Incidents in Sanità
Tensions among youth groups in the Sanità district and surrounding areas have been escalating for months. The neighborhood has been the site of several armed violence incidents. On June 6, two young men were targeted outside a club on Via Sanità. Among them was Giulio Pirozzi, the namesake nephew of an imprisoned Camorra boss linked to the Misso clan, and son of Vincenzo Pirozzi, a director and actor known for his anti-Camorra activism. That incident was believed to be connected to an armed raid on May 28 near the Church of San Vincenzo, initially mistaken for a “stesa” (a show of force) but later revealed to be a failed attempted murder against an unidentified man.
The memory of an October 2024 incident still weighs heavily on the community. During a shootout between rival youth groups from Piazza Mercato and the Sanità district, 15-year-old Emanuele Tufano lost his life due to “friendly fire” on October 24. The teenager died during a raid carried out by Sanità youths in the Mercato area. An altar was erected in his memory but was later removed by law enforcement.
Tufano’s death, linked by kinship to a local Camorra figure, reportedly triggered a violent internal reprisal. In retaliation, a killer from the Sequino crime family murdered 20-year-old Emanuele Durante, who was believed to be responsible for the killing and identified in wiretaps as a scapegoat. He was also part of the same youth group.
The ongoing violence underscores the urgent need for effective interventions to address the root causes of these conflicts and ensure the safety of residents in the Sanità district.
Source: https://napoli.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_gennaio_18/napoli-sparatoria-al-rione-sanita-due-giovani-feriti-il-19enne-e-grave-in-rianimazione-colpito-a-un-braccio-il-minorenne-29661b1d-aba7-4f2e-a3f6-9fad61c81xlk.shtml
