Overview

• Santo Romano, 19, was fatally shot in the chest on November 1–2, 2024, in San Sebastiano al Vesuvio after a dispute over dirty shoes.
• The 17-year-old defendant was sentenced to 18 years and 8 months in prison under juvenile law, exceeding the prosecutor's 17-year request.
• The sentence reflects Italy's juvenile sentencing laws, which cap penalties for minors at 20 years and reduce them by one-third in abbreviated trials.
• The victim's family, including his mother and brother, have condemned the sentence as unjust, with the brother issuing death threats against the convict.
• A defiant social media post by the convicted teen has intensified public debate on youth violence, sentencing, and accountability.