Cops: Fog in the Mountains Leads to Triple Fatal Shooting

Police say a Sicilian boar hunt turned into a deadly three-way shootout after an apparent case of mistaken identity in dense mountain fog. Officers found three bodies after the shootings in the Nebrodi Mountains on Jan. 28, initially prompting speculation of a Mafia hit in a region long tied to the Cosa Nostra, per the Telegraph. Initially, investigators also considered the possibility that the shootings were either an accident or perhaps a murder-suicide after an argument, reports ANSA. The victims have since been revealed to be wild-boar hunters with no criminal records, and officials believe the killings began when 82-year-old hunter Antonio Gatani fired at movement in the mist, apparently thinking he'd spotted game, per the Telegraph.

His bullets instead struck 44-year-old hunter Giuseppe Pino, killing him, and wounded Pino's 25-year-old brother, Devis. According to prosecutors' working theory, the injured Devis then shot Gatani dead in retaliation. A fourth hunter, identified only as AS, 48, and described as a good friend of Gatani, allegedly responded by shooting and killing Devis before fleeing the scene. He was arrested days later and is the only survivor "of an incident that the Italian press is likening to a Hollywood film," per the Telegraph. Prosecutor Angelo Cavallo said the man has so far refused to answer questions, adding, "We hope that during the next questioning, he will ... provide us with a reconstruction of what happened."

Investigators are examining the men's weapons, bullet trajectories, and footage from a webcam mounted on Devis Pino's rifle, which may have recorded the confrontation in the low light and thick fog. While authorities say the triple killing doesn't appear to be linked to organized crime, the Nebrodi area remains under scrutiny for Mafia-linked schemes, including alleged arson-for-profit operations and the siphoning of millions in EU funds meant for a local national park. Wild Beim Wild notes that the incident brings up a few important questions about recreational hunting, including: "How robust are the regulations for the safe handling of firearms in the forest?"