A 54-year-old father has been arrested for shooting dead a 20-year-old man in Crete whom he blamed for his teenage son's death in a car accident nearly two years ago, prompting police to deploy riot units around both families' homes amid fears of a deadly vendetta.
By Yiorgos Sombolos
The victim had been driving a car in November 2023 when it crashed into a utility pole, severely injuring his passenger, 17-year-old Georgios Parasiris.
The teenager died after 19 days in intensive care.
On Tuesday, the father allegedly rammed the young man's vehicle in Amoudara before the victim fled on foot.
The suspect pursued him and fired five revolver shots, four of which struck the victim in the back. He died at the scene.
The suspect fled but surrendered to Malevizi police approximately 30 minutes later, handing over the murder weapon. "I am at peace now," he reportedly told arresting officers. The attack did not come without warning.
The victim had filed a formal complaint against the suspect in late 2024 after the father allegedly threatened and physically assaulted him. Authorities had investigated those earlier incidents but the case had not resulted in charges at the time of Tuesday's killing.
Riot police have established security perimeters around both families' residences to prevent retaliatory violence.
The suspect was due to appear before a Heraklion prosecutor Wednesday morning under heavy guard.