Rivera massacre

The Rivera massacre was a spree shooting that occurred on 4 March 1992, in several towns in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland. Erminio Criscione, an Italian emigrant, shot six people dead and wounded six others. He hung himself while in custody five days later.

Rivera massacre
Photo of Criscione.
LocationOriglio, Rivera, Massagno, Lugano District, Canton of Ticino, Switzerland
Date4 March 1992
7:00-8:30 p.m. (UTC+1)
WeaponsKalashnikov rifle
Deaths6
Injured6
PerpetratorErminio Criscione

Shootings

On the evening of 4 March, Criscione armed himself with a Kalashnikov rifle and drove to the house of his friend and co-worker in Origlio. The friend came to the door after Criscione rang the bell, and when the door opened Criscione fired twice, hitting his friend in each leg.[1] Criscione turned around and walked away around 7:25 p.m.

At 7:45 p.m. in Soresina Criscione attacked the family of another co-worker who were preparing for dinner. He shot and killed four members of the family and wounded three others.

At 8:00 p.m., he went on to kill two more colleagues before moving on to his final target, his boss. Twenty minutes later, Criscione arrived at the home of his boss in Massagno. His boss was not home and instead Criscione was greeted by the man's wife whom Criscione promptly shot twice in the legs before being told, "Tell him I'll be back".

Criscione was looking for Adriano Cavadini in the Camorino and was arrested at 9:15 p.m. whilst in his car. He turned himself in without a struggle.[1][2] After the arrest, he was silent and cried.[1][3][4][5]

Perpetrator

Erminio Criscione, aged 37, was an Italian emigrant from Mineo. He was on a wholesale meat suppliers training course when the shooting occurred, in which he targeted former colleagues. His acquaintances described him as a quiet man who loved animals. Criscione was noted to have some financial difficulties,[6] and had failed a class taught by one of the men he killed.[7]

On 9 March 1992, between 5:45 pm and 8:00 pm, Criscione hung himself in a cell at the police headquarters with a sheet knotted to the window bars.[8][9] Paramedics and the police tried unsuccessfully to revive him.[8] He timed his suicide for the changing of his guards.[10] He had been watched closely in custody and the police took extra precautions against suicide, despite the fact that Criscione had not mentioned any suicidal ideation in an interrogation the day prior.[8]

References
  1. Zantonelli, Franco (6 March 1992). "Lugano, Sei Le Vittime Del Folle Strage A Colpi Di Kalashnikov" [Lugano, Six Victims Of Crazed Kalashnikov Massacre]. la Repubblica (in Italian).
  2. "6 Killed as Gunman Goes Door-to-Door in 3 Swiss Villages". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 6 March 1992. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  3. "Rievocazione della "Strage di Rivera"" [Re-enactment of the "Rivera Massacre"]. RTSI (in Italian). 27 September 2001.
  4. "Chronik der Amokläufer in der Schweiz". Beobachter (in Swiss High German). 8 October 2001. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  5. "Vent'anni fa la strage di Rivera" [Twenty years ago the Rivera massacre]. Corriere del Ticino (in Italian). 3 March 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  6. Gagliardi, Emanuele (3 March 2012). "Vent'anni prima, vent'anni dopo" [Twenty years before, twenty years after]. Corriere del Ticino (in Italian). Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  7. Mancini, Patrick (2 March 2012). "Strage di Rivera, 20 anni dopo: il ricordo di chi arrivò a un passo dalla morte" [Rivera massacre, 20 years later: The memories of those who came within a hair's breadth of death]. tio/20 Minuti (in Italian). Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  8. "Swiss Slayer Of 6 Hangs Self During Change Of Guard". Deseret News. 10 March 1992. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  9. Zantonelli, Franco (11 March 1992). "S' Impicca In Cella Il Killer Del Canton Ticino" [Ticino Killer Hangs Himself In Cell]. la Repubblica (in Italian).
  10. "Gunman Held In Rampage Commits Suicide In Jail". Orlando Sentinel. 11 March 1992. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
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