Overview

• Paolo Taormina, 21, was fatally attacked outside his parents' pub in Palermo’s Champagneria district after intervening to halt a group assault.
• Police detained 28-year-old Gaetano Maranzano, who reportedly admitted responsibility and said he lost control over a past slight involving his partner.
• Investigators are analyzing CCTV from nearby venues and interviewing witnesses as prosecutors assess the suspect’s account of the events.
• Authorities ordered an autopsy because early reports conflict on whether Taormina died from a close-range gunshot or a knife wound.
• The killing has prompted a community vigil and intense online attention, including a TikTok post by the suspect that referenced mafia-themed media.