Overview

• A 17-year-old was sentenced to 18 years and 8 months for the November 2024 shooting of 19-year-old Santo Romano in San Sebastiano al Vesuvio after a dispute over dirty designer shoes.
• The defendant opted for an abbreviated juvenile proceeding, which reduced the maximum possible sentence by one-third to 20 years, with the court exceeding the prosecutor’s 17-year recommendation.
• The victim’s family and supporters have protested the sentence as too lenient, with the victim’s mother calling it a failure of justice and warning it does not deter youth violence.
• The convicted minor’s parents publicly apologized to the victim’s family, acknowledging the devastation caused to both families by their son’s actions.
• The case has reignited national debate over juvenile sentencing laws, with advocates pushing for harsher penalties to address youth violence and prevent future tragedies.