The bodies of three hunters were found in Sicily’s Nebrodi Mountains after an apparent hunting accident escalated into deadly retaliation. Investigators say 82-year-old Antonio Gatani fired at movement he believed to be a boar, killing 44-year-old Giuseppe Pino and wounding Devis Pino, 25. Devis allegedly shot Gatani, and a fourth hunter, identified only as A.S., then allegedly killed Devis and later surrendered. Authorities are examining weapons, bullet trajectories and a rifle-mounted webcam for answers.
Mistaken Shot During Sicily Boar Hunt Sparks Deadly Three-Way Shooting
82-year-old Antonio Gatani was searching the woods for wild boar near the village of Montagnareale
Three hunters were found dead in the misty woodlands of the Nebrodi Mountains in eastern Sicily after what investigators believe was a tragic chain reaction sparked by a mistaken shot.
What Happened
Police say the group was hunting wild boar near Montagnareale at dawn on Jan. 28, when 82-year-old Antonio Gatani heard a noise or saw movement in the undergrowth. Believing it to be a boar, he shouldered his rifle and fired. The bullet struck 44-year-old hunter Giuseppe Pino, killing him instantly, and wounded Giuseppe’s brother, 25-year-old Devis Pino.
Police found the three bodies in the Nebrodi Mountains
According to investigators, the shocked and injured Devis then allegedly turned and shot Mr Gatani dead. A fourth man in the party, a 48-year-old identified only by the initials A.S. and described as a close friend of Mr Gatani, is accused of shooting and killing Devis before fleeing the scene. He later surrendered to police and remains the only survivor of the incident.
Ongoing Investigation
Prosecutor Angelo Cavallo said the surviving suspect has been interviewed but has largely refused to answer questions. Detectives are examining the hunters’ firearms, bullet trajectories and other forensic evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events. A rifle-mounted webcam belonging to Devis Pino may contain crucial footage; investigators have not yet disclosed whether it captured any useful images. Reports note dense mist and low light at the time of the shooting, factors that may have contributed to the fatal mistake.
The Nebrodi Mountains have long been a focus of mafia activities - iStockphoto
Local Context
Although the killings currently appear unrelated to organised crime, the Nebrodi Mountains have a documented history of mafia-linked activity. Local criminal groups have allegedly used brutal tactics—including setting animals alight to trigger forest fires—and former park director Giuseppe Antoci has claimed large-scale siphoning of EU funds intended for the Nebrodi regional park. Antoci narrowly survived an assassination attempt in 2016 after confronting suspected mob corruption in the area.
"We hope that during the next questioning, he will decide to respond to our questions and will provide us with a reconstruction of what happened," said prosecutor Angelo Cavallo.
Authorities continue to piece together ballistic evidence, witness statements and any digital recordings to determine exactly how a routine hunt turned into a triple killing.
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