Crete: Father guns down young man he held responsible for his son’s death

“I did what I had to do!” With these words a 54-year-old man on the island of Crete turned himself to police shortly after he gunned down a young man he held responsible for the death of his son in a traffic accident three years ago.

“My life stopped on 20-10-2023,” he allegedly told the Police, reflecting – according to his claims – his constant mental burden and the sense of impasse he was experiencing. At the same time, he claimed that the lack of substantial progress in the judicial investigation of the traffic accident intensified his anger and frustration.

It was Tuesday late afternoon, May 5, where the man accidentally met the victim on a street of the seaside resort of Ammoudara by Heraklio.

Local media alleged that the man first  and intentionally crashed his car into the vehicle of the 21-year-old victim. When the young man got out of the vehicle, the man fired six shots from a pistol and fatally injuring the victim.

He then reportedly started to kick the body in outrage.

The shooter is the father of a 17-year-old boy who was killed in a traffic accident three years ago. The boy and yesterday’s victim were friends and the latter was driving the car without a license.

The shooter could apparently not deal with his son’s death and he had already in the past harassed the 21-year-old victim.

In December 2024, the shooter was charged with causing bodily harm and using a weapon with authorities to have confiscated the hunting rifle that he legally possessed. For this case, he was released with restrictive conditions of a ban on leaving the country and not approaching the 21-year-old  victim as well as his sister, at a distance of less than 100 meters.

The case was referred to the main investigation as he was eventually charged with attempted murder.

Another complaint had been made to the Police in the summer of 2024. Family members of the 21-year-old man had filed a complaint about threats from the 54-year-old and his wife.

Last time the victim sought police protection was on March 4, 2026.

The shooter is in custody and so is also his wife who faces charges of cooperation in the murder as she was also sitting in the car.

The shooter was supposed to appear before the prosecutor today, Wednesday, however, the prosecutor reportedly decided to take his testimony at the police station, as family members of the victim had gathered outside the Justice building.

Locals fear of a possible vendetta.

PS According to latest information of MEGA TV Live News, the victim had indeed obtained a driver’s license 20 days before the fatal traffic accident. However, the case file has not concluded yet!

What are they waiting for?