Ioannina, Greece – A 71-year-old man in Northern Greece fatally shot a 35-year-old burglar who attempted to rob him in the village of Hinka, part of the municipality of Zitsa in the Ioannina.
The elderly man, who permanently resides abroad but spends his summers in the village, found himself confronting a 35-year-old Greek intruder who had hidden his face. Armed with a metal rod and a dagger, the intruder entered the elderly resident’s home, leading to a confrontation between the two men.
Despite the elderly man’s repeated pleas for the intruder to leave his house, the situation escalated when the 35-year-old assailant struck the resident with the metal rod. In response, the elderly resident retrieved an old firearm from his home and, in an act of self-defense, shot the intruder in the chest.
Emergency services swiftly intervened, transporting the wounded intruder first to Voutsaras Hospital and later to Hatzikosta Hospital in Ioannina. Despite the dedicated efforts of medical professionals, the intruder succumbed to his injuries.
Local law enforcement responded promptly, resulting in the arrest of the elderly man, who is now facing charges of murder and illegal possession of weapons. A preliminary investigation into the incident is currently underway.
As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities seized a Wesson & Harrington brand revolver with a 0.32 mm caliber, four cartridges, a metal rod, a knife, a hood, and a pair of work gloves. The community awaits the investigation’s findings to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding the event.
This incident is not the first time an elderly individual has taken action to protect their home. In 2021, an 87-year-old Greek grandmother residing in Pyrgos, Peloponnese, faced a trial for wounding a burglar who had broken into her home. Frustrated by prior burglaries, she used an airgun to injure the intruder after he entered her residence through an unbolted entrance. The intruder had attempted to reach the woman’s handbag but noticed her presence and assaulted her with a stick, resulting in an injury to her right eye.
Facing charges of causing grave bodily harm, the grandmother maintained that her intent was not to kill the burglar but rather to protect herself. She alleged that the culprits were two Roma brothers in her neighborhood, further underscoring the challenges faced by individuals dealing with repeated break-ins and thefts.
