An 81-year-old man shot and killed his bedridden wife before turning the gun on himself in Bologna on Monday, in what investigators suspect was a mercy killing driven by her declining health.
Roberto Rizzioli fired two shots at 86-year-old Gianna Galletti while she slept in their apartment on Via Shakespeare, then killed himself with a third round from the legally owned handgun. Neighbours discovered the bodies and raised the alarm around 6:30 a.m., but emergency responders were unable to revive either victim.
Police found the apartment door left open with a farewell note containing last wishes and a kind of testament. Early findings point to the wife's severe illness as the likely motive. Forensic teams and investigators have sealed the residence as inquiries continue.