Andrea Innocenti On Monday evening, around 22 p.m., the streets of Monteverde became the scene of a violent attack involving Genoese actor Davide Iacopini . He was returning home on an electric scooter when a black minivan approached him. A sudden kick came from the vehicle's window , knocking the actor off his feet, sending him rolling across the asphalt and crashing into a parked Mini Cooper.
The attack on Via Anton Giulio Barrilli
Eyewitness accounts gathered at the scene describe a rapid response: the four-wheeled vehicle stopped next to the actor, rolled up the window, and, without warning, struck Iacopini's chest with its leg. The impact was so forceful that the assailant lost a shoe, and he then backed away only to retrieve the fallen object, without providing assistance.
The actor, not wearing a scooter helmet , suffered a serious head injury and had to be rushed to San Camillo Hospital , where he was immediately placed in intensive care with a guarded prognosis.
Prosecutor's Office investigations and the hypothesis of a "minicar gang"
The Rome Public Prosecutor's Office, led by prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi and prosecutor Ambrogio Cassiani, has opened a file for attempted murder.
Investigators are analyzing security cameras in the neighborhood to identify the car and its two occupants, who, according to a witness, are minors. Ownership of a minivan is permitted in Italy for those aged 14 and over with a valid driving license, so the young drivers' allegation was considered highly relevant.
Other incidents recorded in the area
The case does not appear to be isolated. The previous day, a 45-year-old woman was struck in the back of the head by a passenger in another minicar in the same area while returning home on a scooter. The car then fled the scene, but collided with another driver a few meters away. In a third incident, reported a day later, another victim reported being pushed by a similar minicar, losing her balance and falling. The similarities between the three incidents—a dark-colored vehicle, a sideways approach, a sudden kick or punch—led authorities to hypothesize the existence of a sort of "minicar gang," likely composed of young people who, for fun or a challenge, attack passersby on scooters.
Law enforcement is taking statements, reviewing surveillance footage, and attempting to reconstruct the vehicle's license plate. Meanwhile, the Monteverde community has been warned to be extremely vigilant around vehicles of this type, especially at night, and to report any suspicious behavior.