Fears of a vendetta after the injury of the 23-year-old in Kastelli, Heraklion

They rammed his car with a Kalashnikov – The young man, who escaped by luck, was accused about a year ago of attempted murder against a 43-year-old relative

A family feud, which is feared to escalate, appears to be behind the barrage of gunfire that the 23-year-old was shot at while driving his farm truck in the Pano Logos area, in the Gortyna municipality, on Holy Tuesday afternoon.

The young man, who escaped by luck, was charged about a year ago with attempted murder against a 43-year-old relative of theirs. In March 2023, the 23-year-old and his brother had ambushed a petrol station in the Pretoria area and opened fire on him, but the 43-year-old managed to escape without being injured by the bullets. The attack had been recorded by a closed-circuit camera, resulting in the identification of the perpetrators.

Security officers believe that the attack against the 23-year-old was an act of retaliation on the part of the near-victim, but they estimate that it will not go unanswered by that of the young man’s family, who is being treated at the Venizelion Hospital with a through wound to the left shoulder blade.

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For this reason, strong police forces have been deployed both at the hospital and in the area where the two families live in order to prevent further incidents.

The 23-year-old is expected to give a statement today and it is hoped that he will name the gunmen, who are said to be at least two. This is because, in addition to the Kalashnikov rounds, bullets from a second weapon, possibly a handgun, were found in his car, which was punctured by the gunfire.

The findings were sent for ballistic examination to the forensic laboratories. However, police officers have been oriented to the identity of the perpetrators, whose investigations are underway in the greater Messara area.