Police arrest 53-year-old over fatal shooting of brother in East Mani

The shooting in East Mani

Police and local media report that a 53-year-old man shot his 57-year-old brother on Saturday, 31 October, on an agricultural plot in Elaiochori, a village in the Oitylo municipal unit of East Mani. The three siblings had gone to the land early that morning to harvest olives. Shortly after 12 noon, a heated argument between the two men escalated, and the 53-year-old allegedly drew a gun and fired at his brother's upper chest. The 57-year-old was taken to the Areopoli Health Centre in critical condition, and doctors could not save him. Police say he died there shortly afterwards, while NEWS 24/7 puts the death shortly before 3 pm, citing its own reporting. The same outlet says the shooting happened in the heat of the moment and that the weapon was probably a revolver.

Initial motive

Initial information points to a dispute over land. Police are examining personal differences and checking whether the confrontation was tied to disagreements over the fields. NewsIT, citing first evidence, says the argument started with a disagreement over the fields. in.gr reports, based on information it received, that the differences concerned landed property. The preliminary investigation is still examining the circumstances in which the argument turned deadly.

Arrest and charges

The suspect presented himself voluntarily at the Areopoli Police Station, where he was arrested. A case file was opened against him for intentional homicide and a violation of firearms legislation. The preliminary investigation is being carried out by the Sparta Department for Prosecution and Crime Detection. According to in.gr, police are searching for the weapon used in the shooting. The official statement from the Hellenic Police describes the arrest in these terms.

“Arrested today (31.10.2026) in a local community of the Municipality of East Mani, a 53-year-old Greek national, charged with intentional homicide against a 57-year-old Greek national.”

The same statement says the 57-year-old was taken to the Areopoli Health Centre, where he died shortly afterwards. It also says the suspect is to be referred to the competent authorities.

Conflicting accounts about the sister

The sister of the two men was at the plot when the shooting happened, and the reports differ on what happened to her. NEWS 24/7, citing lakonikos.gr, says she was lightly injured by a stray projectile. in.gr reports that the suspect also turned the gun on his sister but missed. The police statement in these sources does not mention her. The sources do not say whether the weapon has been recovered.