Rabat – Former police officer, Massimo Adriatici, shot and killed 39-year-old Younes El Boussetaoui, a Moroccan foreign national, in Italy’s northern town of Voghera. The altercation occurred outside of a bar on Tuesday evening.
According to Italian news outlets, the former police officer is currently under house arrest while authorities conduct a thorough investigation of the incident. Voghera police have questioned why the former police officer, and current professor of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure at the Student School of Police Officers of Alessandria, was wielding a firearm at a bar.
Adriatici used a .22 caliber pistol to kill Boussetaoui and eyewitness reports state that the gunman shot the Moroccan man at close range in the right-side of his chest.
According to Adriatici, it was an accidental discharge that claimed Boussetaoui’s life. Additionally, the gunman claimed that the Moroccan man had frequently caused problems in the bar and had harassed a young woman.
Local police and regional government officials have publicly condemned the shooting.
“Clearly it is not permissible for such an act to be carried out even more if the person who carries it out is a representative of the institutions,” said M5S Municipal Councilor Antonio Marfi. Other local politicians shared the point of view, blaming Adriatici for acting out of control despite his experience in law enforcement.
“The situation of the Lega traction Vogherese majority is shameful,” added Simone Verni, regional councilor of M5S Lombardia. “A councilor under investigation by exchange vote and a Security Councilor, formerly a policeman and lawyer, the author of a very serious fact.”
However, other regional figures have expressed support for Adriatici, claiming that the former police officer acted out of self-defense.
“Of course, the death of a person is always to be avoided, but the dynamic is undoubtedly of self-defense and the hope is that once again what happened is not exploited politically. Being able to defend oneself is always a legitimate right,” stated Angelo Ciocca, a member of the same precinct as Adriatici.
The former police officer will remain under house arrest until the investigation is complete.
Younes El Boussetaoui is the third Moroccan residing in Italy to be murdered in the last month.
Read also: Questions Continue After Bizarre Death of Two Moroccan Women in Italy
