A 25-year-old soccer player was fatally stabbed with a screwdriver during an attempted robbery of the pizzas he was carrying. Gabriele Vaccaro and two companions were heading back to their car at approximately 3:30 am on Sunday, April 19 in Pavia, Italy when they encountered a group of five teenagers. An altercation ensued, resulting in Gabriele being stabbed in the neck and abdomen. The assailants fled the scene, and despite his friends not realizing the seriousness of his injuries, they took him home before seeking medical help. Paramedics later determined his condition as critical, and he passed away shortly after being taken to the hospital.
Following the incident, three of the youths, including two young men and a 17-year-old of Egyptian descent, were apprehended and interrogated. Investigators revealed that CCTV footage indicated the 17-year-old used a screwdriver in the attack. The confrontation reportedly began when the group demanded the pizzas from Gabriele, leading to the tragic outcome.
Apart from Gabriele’s tragic death, one of his friends sustained a minor abdominal injury and received treatment at a hospital. Originally hailing from Favara, Gabriele, a postal worker and avid football player, had represented various clubs such as Atletico Favara, Casteltermini, and Kamarat in the Promozione league. Atletico Favara remembered him as a kind-hearted individual, a dedicated athlete, and a role model of sportsmanship and enthusiasm. He is survived by his parents, two brothers, and a twin sister.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.