Lucrezia Ciotti The mother of the 16-year-old involved in the minivan attacks in Rome breaks her silence and acknowledges the need for her son to be held accountable for his actions. " He's not a monster ," she states, expressing her desire to apologize to the family of Davide Iacopini, who remains in intensive care after suffering a serious head injury.
Minivan assaults in Rome: 16-year-old's mother says "He's not a monster."
The documents relating to the attacks that occurred between October 4th and 5th in the Monteverde and Testaccio neighborhoods will be forwarded to the Rome Juvenile Prosecutor's Office . Two 16- and 17-year-olds, driving a black minivan with a red cobra sticker, allegedly attacked passersby and cyclists, involving six people . The minors were charged at large with attempted murder and assault and admitted their responsibility to investigators.
The Juvenile Prosecutor's Office will have to evaluate the next steps, including summoning the boys again, conducting further investigations, or possibly imposing precautionary measures. Investigators are analyzing the cell phones seized from the youths and their parents , as well as images recorded by a camera installed in the minicar, to determine whether the attacks were the result of a social media challenge or the involvement of other individuals.
The car, belonging to the seventeen-year-old driver, was identified thanks to tips and evidence gathered during the investigation. Meanwhile, shock prevails among his classmates: one of the boys is described as a model student , while the other is said to be going through a difficult period, marked by a family bereavement and numerous absences.
Davide Iacopini was attacked. The 16-year-old's mother says, "I would like to apologize."
The most serious victim is Genoese actor Davide Iacopini , known for his roles in Suburra and Diaz . He remains in intensive care at Rome's San Camillo Hospital for a head injury and has undergone two neurosurgeries after falling from his e-scooter. According to the reconstruction, the fall was caused by a kick or a push from the minicar's window.
The mother of the sixteen-year-old in the passenger seat spoke to La Repubblica , acknowledging the need for her son to be held accountable for his actions. " My son will have to take responsibility, but he's not a monster ," she said, adding, " I'd like to speak to Davide Iacopini's mother and apologize ." The woman explained that, according to her son, the two boys' intention was to scare passersby, without realizing the gravity of their actions. " They didn't mean to beat anyone. My son told me they intended it to be a prank ," she said, adding, however, " They shouldn't have played those pranks, they shouldn't have ."
The mother also described the boy's distress after realizing the consequences of what had happened. " My son asked me, 'Can you believe God can perform a miracle? I don't know how to pray. Help me pray to help that man .'" The woman then encouraged reflection on the influence of society and social media on young people, emphasizing that children's mistakes cannot be blamed solely on their parents. Her final thought was for the victim and the boy's future: " I wish Davide could return to his life. That's what I want more than anything ." She concluded: " Being a mother doesn't mean always defending a child. Sometimes it means having the courage to confront him with his responsibilities ."
Minister of Education and Merit Giuseppe Valditara also weighed in on the matter , denouncing a " total indifference toward others ." The minister noted that even a scooter or minicar can become dangerous if used irresponsibly, emphasizing the importance of teaching children to respect others and to be aware of the consequences, including criminal penalties, of their behavior.