A day after a bloody shootout that left two people dead and four injured in Vorizia, in the municipality of Phaistos, southern Crete, police forces remain deployed across the area amid mounting concern among residents.
Heavily armed officers from the EKAM counterterrorism unit that have been conducting house raids in the village, arrested one suspect and detained another early this morning, both believed to be connected to the feud.
During the operation, police discovered an unregistered shotgun, while searches continue for others thought to be involved in the fatal clash.
The victims were identified as 39-year-old Fanouris Kargakis, a father of five, and a 56-year-old woman who had traveled to the village to attend a relative’s memorial service. Despite earlier reports suggesting the woman died of a heart attack, authorities now confirm that both victims were killed by gunshot wounds during the incident.
Local sources say the atmosphere in Vorizia remains tense, with several families temporarily leaving their homes amid fears of retaliation.
A Feud That Turned Deadly
According to preliminary findings, the violence may have stemmed from a long-standing land dispute between two local families. Witness statements suggest that Kargakis may have been the first to open fire during an encounter with members of the rival family, who returned fire, killing him on the spot.
The confrontation came less than 12 hours after an explosion at a house under construction, reportedly owned by the rival family of Kargakis, which caused significant damage and further inflamed tensions.
(ΣΤΕΦΑΝΟΣ ΡΑΠΑΝΗΣ / EUROKINISSI)
(ΣΤΕΦΑΝΟΣ ΡΑΠΑΝΗΣ / EUROKINISSI)
Police said an explosive ordnance disposal team was dispatched to the site of the blast on Saturday morning. Later that day, around 10:30 a.m., Kargakis encountered members of the rival family at the village entrance, leading to an exchange of gunfire that resulted in his death and multiple injuries.
Witness Accounts
Family members of those involved described a chain of escalating events.
“There was an explosion at a house — they planted a bomb,” one relative told Mega TV. “The other family went to demand answers, believing they were responsible because of old land disputes. Then came an argument, a woman died of a heart attack, and shooting broke out. When people start chasing each other with Kalashnikovs, the police can only try to isolate the village.”
(ΣΤΕΦΑΝΟΣ ΡΑΠΑΝΗΣ / EUROKINISSI)
Another local resident condemned the violence, saying the conflict “belongs to another era.”
“These things should not be happening in our time. This feud goes back years, and blowing up a house was wrong,” the resident said. “No one dares go near the village now — people are afraid.”
Psychological Support for Children
In the wake of the tragedy, Greece’s Education Ministry announced the deployment of a special team of child psychologists and social workers to schools in the area to support students and teachers affected by the violence.
The team, sent on the orders of Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki, will visit schools in Vorizia and the nearby town of Zaros once the police operation concludes and safety is restored. Schools in both communities will remain closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Zacharaki and General Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education Giannis Papadomarkakis are in ongoing contact with the local mayor and education officials to coordinate the response.
Ongoing Investigation
Strong police forces continue to guard the two hospitals in Heraklion where the dead and injured were taken. Two of the wounded remain under police guard as potential suspects in the shooting.
Police spokesperson Konstantia Dimoglidu told ERT News that the case file will be submitted to the prosecutor’s office on Sunday, but investigations will continue until all individuals involved in the attack are located and brought to justice.
The deadly shootout in Vorizia — a village now gripped by fear and grief — has once again highlighted the persistence of vendetta-style feuds in parts of rural Crete, where deep-rooted disputes can still erupt into tragic violence.
