Michele Lavopa, 21, with a prior criminal record, has confessed to the murder of 19-year-old Antonella Lopez, which took place during the early hours at the Bahia Beach nightclub in Molfetta. The confession came during his interrogation by public prosecutor Federico Perrone Capano, with his lawyer, Nicola Martino, present. Lavopa is also facing charges of attempted murder for wounding four others, including Lopez’s boyfriend, Eugenio Palermiti, the nephew of a well-known jailed crime boss.
Lavopa admitted to carrying a 7.65 caliber pistol that night, claiming it was for self-defense after previous run-ins with rival groups in Bari’s nightlife scene. Initially, he stated that he had thrown the gun into the sea but later admitted that he couldn’t recall where exactly he discarded it. Police and investigators spent hours searching the countryside near Bitonto, but the weapon remains missing.
According to Lavopa, the confrontation with Palermiti’s group, which has ties to organized crime in Bari, escalated during the night. Tensions had already existed between the two groups, and Lavopa claims that Palermiti attempted to draw a weapon, prompting him to fire in response. Unfortunately, Antonella Lopez, the niece of a man killed in an ambush in 2021, was caught in the crossfire and was fatally shot in the shoulder.
After the shooting, Lavopa fled the scene with the help of friends, who drove him to the San Paolo district in Bari. He then traveled to Bitonto to hide the weapon before disposing of his clothes from that night. Despite the escape, authorities managed to identify Lavopa and his accomplices through surveillance footage from the club, which also captured the heated altercation that led to the deadly incident.
The shooting also injured four others, including Palermiti, who were all treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Despite the severity of the situation, the victims gave evasive and uncooperative statements to the police, reflecting the omertà often seen in such cases. The fight between the two groups, sparked by long-standing animosity, had escalated quickly, with the deadly gunfire taking place near the club’s bar area.
Authorities believe the situation could have resulted in even more casualties, given the crowded nature of the club at the time. Lavopa’s arrest was accelerated not only by his confession but also due to fears that he could flee or carry out further attacks against his rivals. Investigators continue to monitor tensions between the two groups, as the threat of retaliation remains high.
