Kalamata police arrest 38-year-old man following morning shotgun attack on former partner

Morning ambush on Xenophontos Street

Police in the Peloponnese city of Kalamata arrested a 38-year-old man on 23 September 2026 following an armed attack against his 25-year-old former partner. The couple had ended their two-year relationship approximately one month earlier, after which the woman and her family received persistent telephone threats. Around 07:00 on the morning of the attack, the suspect phoned the victim and told her "your life is short." Not taking the verbal warning seriously, the 25-year-old left home for her job in central Kalamata. As she approached her workplace along Xenophontos Street, the 38-year-old intercepted her in his car, stepped out holding a double-barreled hunting shotgun, and fired two direct shots toward her. The pellets missed the victim, who ran to safety, and none of the pedestrians passing through the busy area sustained injuries.

Traffic collision and search at OSE Park

Immediately after discharging the two shotgun rounds, the shooter re-entered his vehicle and fled the scene at high speed. While attempting to escape through the city, the suspect collided with another automobile, causing property damage before abandoning his car and fleeing on foot. The victim contacted law enforcement to report the gunfire and describe the assailant. Officers from the Messinia Police Directorate immediately established a search perimeter across the surrounding neighborhoods. Officers from the DIAS motorcycle police unit located the 38-year-old hiding inside thick brush near the municipal OSE Park and took him into custody without further violence.

Recovery of the weapon and father's arrest

Investigators from the Kalamata Crime Prosecution and Investigation Sub-Directorate subsequently located and seized the hunting shotgun used during the attack at the residence of a relative. The firearm held a valid license registered to the suspect's 68-year-old father. The father subsequently appeared voluntarily at the local police station, where officers arrested him on misdemeanor charges related to negligent firearm storage under Greek weapons statutes. Police background checks confirmed that the 38-year-old suspect had no previous criminal record and had not been the subject of prior domestic violence reports.

Surveillance evidence and prosecution charges

The ongoing preliminary investigation conducted by the Kalamata Crime Sub-Directorate revealed that the suspect had also engaged in unauthorized surveillance. On the afternoon of 22 September 2026, the day before the shooting, the 38-year-old had photographed the 25-year-old victim against her will. Police compiled a multifaceted case file against the 38-year-old, encompassing charges of attempted intentional homicide, domestic threat, violations of weapons legislation, breaches of personal data privacy legislation, and traffic code violations for fleeing the accident scene. The suspect remains in police custody and is scheduled to be brought before the competent public prosecutor in Kalamata.