Italian man kills stranger who helped his ex-girlfriend, mistaking him for a rival

The fatal misunderstanding

A late-night act of kindness turned deadly on Saturday when a 36-year-old motorcyclist was run down and killed by a jealous ex-boyfriend who mistook him for a romantic rival. The incident occurred around 23:00 in the Maddalena district of Somma Lombardo, near Varese. A 39-year-old woman, who had ended her relationship with the 43-year-old man less than a month earlier, was on her way to a final meeting to retrieve personal belongings. She lost her mobile phone, which she was using as a navigator, and became disoriented. Federico Venco, who was passing by on his scooter, noticed her distress and stopped to offer directions. He even offered to accompany her to the meeting point, a short distance away.

The 43-year-old, growing impatient when she failed to arrive, drove out to look for her. When he spotted his ex-partner with Venco, he immediately assumed the stranger was her new lover. Blinded by jealousy, he accelerated his car and struck Venco deliberately. The impact was described as extremely violent, and Venco died at the scene.

The victim

Federico Venco, 36, was a resident of Samarate and the son of Ermanno Venco, a former mayor and local coordinator of the PdL party. Friends and family remembered him as a generous and gentle man with a passion for sports and the mountains. His dream was to manage a mountain refuge. His father had died of a heart attack while cross-country skiing in 2010. Venco was completely unknown to both the woman and her ex-partner; he had simply stopped to help a stranger in need. The community of Samarate rallied around the family after the news broke.

The attack and aftermath

After the collision, the 43-year-old did not stop. He got out of his car and physically attacked his ex-girlfriend, according to witness accounts. Several passersby intervened, restraining the man and alerting emergency services. The woman was transported to Gallarate hospital under green code for shock. Investigators later found a rock and a knife inside the killer's vehicle, though it is unclear if they were used. The road where the attack took place was isolated and poorly lit, adding to the confusion.

Investigation and arrest

Carabinieri from the Gallarate company quickly ruled out the possibility of a road accident. The reconstruction of events, based on witness statements and the scene, pointed to a deliberate act. The 43-year-old was arrested during the night on charges of voluntary homicide, in agreement with prosecutor Massimo De Filippo of the Busto Arsizio Public Prosecutor's Office. He remains in custody as the investigation continues.