Susanna Riva In the heart of the province of Cuneo, in the small hamlet of Baldissero d'Alba, the night between September 19th and 20th took a tragic turn. Roberto Mollo, a 35-year-old truck driver, witnessed a property violation that escalated into a shooting. The event shocked the local community, and following an investigation, the Asti Prosecutor's Office initiated voluntary manslaughter proceedings against the perpetrator.
According to reconstructions, Mollo had a semi-automatic pistol for clay pigeon shooting in his home, which he legally owned. Around 2:17 a.m. on Sunday, while he was sleeping in his farmhouse, which was undergoing renovation, he heard forced entry noises coming from the courtyard. Frightened, he grabbed the weapon and, from the balcony, unleashed a volley of 12 shots at hooded individuals who were attempting to commit a burglary.
The events of the night of September 19-20 in Baldissero d'Alba
An eyewitness, Mollo's brother, Giuseppe, reported that four or five individuals were present at the scene, all wearing hoods. One of them, identified as Gjovalin Lazri, a 36-year-old Albanian resident of Turin, was shot and died.
Mollo called 112 immediately after the shots, telling the Carabinieri operators that he had acted out of fear and that he didn't know if the person on the ground was dead.
Statements by Roberto Mollo during the call to 112
During the phone call, the man stated, "I wounded a thief. I don't know if he's dead. I was scared, I did it myself, I had the gun." He then specified that the thief was hooded and, fearing for his safety, had decided to shoot: "This hooded guy, they were outside in the yard, and I shot him because I was scared." Mollo also reported hearing several people moving around his property, but refused to touch the gun, stating that it was now unloaded.
Investigations and institutional reactions
Law enforcement officers in Bra and Cuneo continued their investigation, coordinating with the Asti Prosecutor's Office. The magistrate in charge, Biagio Mazzeo, stated that it was "plausible that Mollo acted out of fear," but also emphasized that "a human life was taken." The Prosecutor's Office is evaluating whether to register the case under the special 54-bis register for manslaughter, but clarified that this is not an automatic case of self-defense.
The case has sparked political backlash. Ignazio La Russa, President of the Senate, called the charge of voluntary manslaughter "absurd," while Prosecutor Mazzeo emphasized that the registration of the case does not amount to a conviction. Meanwhile, the victim's family, represented by lawyer Roberta Sisimbro, has asked for respect for the mourning and reiterated the need to await the results of the ballistics tests and autopsy.
The investigation has also focused on Lazri's possible accomplices. The Carabinieri are analyzing public surveillance cameras to determine whether a van transported the gang to the area, and are searching for traces of other tools, such as a screwdriver found in the victim's pocket, which indicate preparation for the robbery.