Ex-army officer opens fire on passers-by

A former Italian army sharp-shooter opened fire from his balcony with a pistol and a carbine in a Rome suburb, killing a passer-by and wounding eight others, authorities said.

Angelo Spagnoli, aged 52, a retired army officer, first attracted the attention of people along his street in the town of Guidonia last night by igniting cans of flammable liquid on his balcony, authorities said.

A middle-aged man was killed, and among the wounded was a doctor who was trying to aid some of those shot, officials said. Three of the wounded were in serious condition.

“He was aiming at the head” of passers-by, Rome police chief Marcello Fulvi told Sky TG24.

“He looked triumphant” when police arrested him, Fulvi said.

State radio said the man had suffered from depression.