Tensions remain high in the Cretan village of Elos Kissamou after the fatal shooting of a 52-year-old man during local festivities celebrating his name day. The suspect, a 22-year-old relative of the victim, is due to testify before a magistrate on Saturday, November 1, facing felony charges including intentional homicide, illegal possession of a firearm, and use of a weapon in a public gathering.

According to police sources, the suspect—who fled the scene after the killing—surrendered hours later to authorities in Chania. He was led before the prosecutor wearing a hood and bulletproof vest, escorted by heavily armed officers amid fears of a revenge vendetta, a concern often associated with rural disputes in Crete.

 A Family Feud That Spanned 15 Years

The families of the victim and the suspect had reportedly been estranged for 15 years, with long-standing animosity and past confrontations. Speaking emotionally to Greek television, the victim’s wife accused members of the assailant’s family of having attacked her mother-in-law in the past. “The village betrayed him,” she said through tears. “They hadn’t spoken for 15 years. There was always hatred. My husband was stigmatized—people called him hot-tempered, but he just wanted to be treated fairly. I will bury him in my village, not here. This place betrayed him.”

What Happened on the Night of the Shooting

According to reports, the 22-year-old claimed that he and the victim had argued over personal differences before he briefly left the gathering. When he returned, he alleges that the older man reached into his pocket, prompting the young man to believe he was reaching for a weapon.

The suspect says he fired first out of fear that the 52-year-old would shoot him.

Authorities later discovered a .22 caliber pistol and its magazine discarded in a field near Elafonisi, a coastal area in western Crete.

A Village on Edge

Police presence in the area has been significantly increased amid concerns of retaliation, a phenomenon not uncommon in small Cretan communities after violent incidents involving relatives.

The tragic killing has reignited discussions about long-standing feuds in rural Greece, where family disputes can simmer for years before erupting into violence.

The 22-year-old remains in custody and is scheduled to give his formal statement on Saturday, as investigators continue to piece together the events that led to the deadly confrontation.