The quarrels in that two-storey building in via Agricola in Monserrato, in the metropolitan city of Cagliari, were known to all. Continued discussions between the owner of the building and one of the tenants who for 8 years, the neighbors say, had not paid the rent, so much so that a lawsuit and an eviction was pending that would become enforceable in February. And it is precisely to ask when he would have left the apartment and paid the arrears, that Antonio Pisu, a 79-year-old building contractor, knocked on Luigi Piras’ door. The 76-year-old man, at the height of yet another discussion, killed him with a gunshot to the chest.
He was stopped shortly after by the agents of the Flying Squad of the Cagliari Police Headquarters on charges of voluntary homicide. The murder weapon, a 7.65, was seized. For the investigators of the Mobile, coordinated by the manager Fabrizio Mustaro, it was an outbreak of murder. Everything happens around 10.30. Antonio Pisu is at home, on the first floor of the building, with his 17-year-old niece, his wife and son, who lives on the same floor. They talk about the problems with the neighbor who has not paid the rent for years and the owner, for some time, has wanted to get back the apartment, also because he would like to give it to one of his family members. The lawsuit is pending and the eviction was scheduled for February.
The impresario then decides to go upstairs to talk to Piras again and ask him when he will leave and when he will pay the arrears. It is not clear what happens inside the house: for sure the two begin to discuss animatedly between the door of the house and the landing. Piras then returns, grabs the 7.65 caliber pistol, held regularly, and confronts the owner. A first blow goes out, which draws him to the chest, probably fatal. The victim’s son clearly hears the shot and runs out, finding his father on the ground. He attacks the 76-year-old and tries to disarm him. During the struggle, according to what the investigators reconstructed, at least three other gunshots were fired. Eventually, after a long turmoil in which the son-in-law also takes part, the son manages to remove the weapon from the hands of the tenant. After a while, the agents of the Flying Squad and an ambulance from 118 arrive on the spot. Unfortunately for Antonio Pisu there is nothing more to be done.
The alleged murderer is transported to the Brotzu hospital to be medicated, then transferred to the police station in Cagliari in custody. The Mobile investigators also arrive in via Agricola, coordinated on the spot by the official Michele Mecca, the manager of the Volanti, Massimo Imbimbo, the specialists of the Scientific Police and the magistrate who coordinates the investigations, the prosecutor Gaetano Porcu. With them, shortly after, the coroner Roberto Demontis, who will probably also take care of the autopsy in the coming days. The news of the impresario’s murder immediately makes the rounds of Monserrato. Community astonished by this fact of blood.
«I knew Antonio Pisu well – says the mayor Tomaso Locci – he was an esteemed person and well liked by everyone, like his whole family. They are hard workers. It is a tragedy that affects the whole community. Monserrato is a country where these facts never happen, we are shocked ». The victim’s grandchildren and children also arrive in via Agricola, devastated by grief. Some scream, others swear at the alleged murderer, still others in tears ask the police to be able to say goodbye to their father for the last time. The body of Antonio Pisu is taken away around 4 pm and transferred to the Policlinico di Monserrato: it is here that the autopsy will be performed.