A 17-year-old has confessed to fatally shooting 19-year-old soccer player Santo Romano during an incident in San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, near Naples. The shooting occurred in Piazza Raffaele Capasso, just steps away from the town hall. Initially denying the allegations, the teenager later admitted to firing the weapon but insisted that he acted in self-defense. He was apprehended by Carabinieri officers from the Torre del Greco operational unit and now faces charges of homicide and attempted homicide.
Following his confession, the teen was placed under emergency detention by the Juvenile Court of Naples, which mandated his transfer to a juvenile reception center in Colli Aminei while awaiting further legal proceedings. In a statement to Tg1, the boy’s father expressed his sorrow, saying, “I’m very sorry for this family because this shouldn’t have happened. I ask for a lot of forgiveness for what has occurred.”
The defense attorney, Luca Raviele, provided insight into the teen’s account of the incident, describing it as a confrontation over trivial matters rather than a more serious altercation. Raviele reported that the teen was pursued by a group of four to five boys, including the victim, who allegedly physically assaulted him. According to the lawyer, the defendant claimed he pulled out the gun and fired as a means of self-defense, not with the intent to kill.
Raviele emphasized that his client is physically slight and appears to have significant challenges. “He’s a person who seems totally harmless,” the lawyer said, noting the possibility that the boy had faced bullying. He explained that adolescents sometimes react aggressively to those who appear vulnerable without considering the consequences of carrying a weapon.
The attorney also highlighted that the teen has documented psychological issues, having been deemed not criminally responsible in a previous case due to partial incapacity to understand his actions. He currently receives disability benefits for mental health issues. The initial court hearing to validate his detention could take place soon, during which Raviele plans to request a psychiatric evaluation to determine the boy’s capacity to understand and participate in legal proceedings. If found incapable at the time of the incident, he may not face conviction but could instead be subjected to protective measures.
