Μake us preferred on Google Greek authorities have arrested four suspects in connection with the attempted murder of a 69-year-old shepherd in the village of Vilandredo, in the regional unit of Rethymno on the island of Crete, nearly two years after the brutal attack.
The case, dating back to September 2024, returned to the spotlight after investigators announced they had solved the crime. The suspects deny all allegations and are giving statements before investigating magistrates.
According to investigators, the victim was ambushed inside his livestock barn, struck on the head, shot multiple times, had his tongue severed, and was left bleeding.
Victim: “I Pretended to Be Dead”
In testimony to investigators, the shepherd said he survived by remaining motionless and pretending to be dead.
“I pretended to be dead. I kept my eyes closed,” he said.
His first statement was provided in writing from the hospital because he was unable to speak after his tongue had been cut.
According to his testimony, the attacker shot him several times after he fell to the ground, tied his legs, and then cut off his tongue with a pocketknife.
“He nudged me, and I pretended to be dead,” the victim said, adding that the attacker continued checking whether he was still alive.
In a second statement given in December, the 69-year-old said he believed the assailant was acting on someone else’s orders.
“I believe the person who came into the shed and attacked me was acting under instructions rather than for personal reasons,” he said. “He was calm and moved like a professional.”
The victim said the attacker struck him in the head with a heavy, rounded object before firing four shots. He recalled hearing the assailant close the door before cutting off his tongue with a knife.
He also told investigators he heard the attacker speaking to another person, although he could not determine whether it was by mobile phone or radio.
“I heard him say, ‘He’s dead,'” the shepherd said. “I heard another voice reply, but I couldn’t make out what it was saying.”
Before leaving, the attacker allegedly fired two more shots.
Investigation Points to Organized Plot
According to the case file, security camera footage suggests the attack was carefully planned. Investigators say the assailant approached the barn during the night with his face concealed, waited for the victim to arrive, carried out the attack, and fled the scene.
Authorities allege the four arrested suspects played different roles in organizing the attempted murder, including allegedly planning the attack and assigning another person to carry it out. The suspected gunman has not yet been identified.
Motive Under Investigation
The case file states that the attacker fired four rounds from a revolver. One bullet struck the victim’s spine, while others injured his legs and right arm.
Despite his severe injuries, the shepherd managed to call his son, telling him, “Come quickly, they’ve killed me.”
His sons found him bleeding heavily with injuries to his limbs and mouth. Investigators recovered two bullets at the scene, while another was removed from the victim’s body during treatment. Ballistics tests confirmed the bullets had been fired from revolver ammunition.
Authorities are also examining intercepted communications that investigators believe are related to the case.
Possible motives under investigation include a longstanding dispute over a road, tensions linked to recent municipal elections, and testimony referring to an incident involving a cannabis plantation.
Investigators are also reviewing two earlier incidents that preceded the attack: the theft of the barn’s security camera recorder in June 2024, which was later replaced, and an assault involving a corrosive substance against one of the victim’s relatives outside their workplace.
