A 38-year-old man arrested after firing a shotgun at his 25-year-old former girlfriend in Kalamata, southern Greece, is expected to appear in court on Thursday. The woman was not hurt, and no passersby were injured.
According to public broadcaster ERT, the attack took place shortly before 8 a.m. on Wednesday. The woman had parked her car at the railway station and was walking to work when the man drove up, stopped, got out holding a hunting shotgun and fired twice in her direction before driving off. Authorities reportedly have video footage of the attack.
About 10 minutes earlier, the suspect allegedly called the woman and threatened her, telling her that her life would be short.
The two had been in a relationship for about two years before splitting up in early August. Since then, there had reportedly been two jealousy-related incidents, and the man allegedly sent threatening messages to the woman’s family. No complaint had been filed with authorities.
On the afternoon before the attack, the suspect allegedly followed his former partner. Police found more than 10 photos of her on his phone, taken without her knowledge or consent.
While fleeing, the man was involved in a traffic accident and abandoned his car. He was arrested shortly afterward by officers of the DIAS motorcycle police unit.
Police later found the shotgun, along with two spent cartridges, in a basement storage space belonging to the suspect’s uncle. The suspect’s father, who legally owned the weapon, was also arrested on firearms charges, chiefly for failing to secure it properly.
The 38-year-old faces charges of attempted homicide, firearms violations, illegal use of a weapon, domestic threats, breach of personal data and leaving the scene of an accident.
The Messinia Police Directorate’s crime investigation unit is continuing the inquiry.
