He had reportedly gone to Monserrato on the night between Wednesday and Thursday to do a favor for a friend who was afraid to go alone to the meeting in Piazza Settimio Severo. Leonardo Mocci, the 23-year-old bricklayer killed with a gunshot to the chest, couldn't bring himself to refuse his acquaintance's help. But once they arrived at their destination, less than five minutes later, something went wrong: his friend was reportedly attacked and brutally beaten before fleeing in Mocci's Fiat Panda. Mocci was found dead in the square a few minutes later, having been struck by a bullet to the heart. This, in a nutshell, is the initial reconstruction—still sketchy—of the murder that claimed the life of the young man from Villacidro, and which the Carabinieri of the Cagliari Investigative Unit have been working on non-stop for two days.

Abandoned in the square

It now seems certain that Leonardo Mocci arrived at the rendezvous in Piazza Settimio Severo driving the family car, accompanying his friend who, a few minutes later, fled in the same vehicle. The young man who fled in the Mocci family's small car was reportedly attacked and injured in the face. It's unclear whether he fled after the 23-year-old was already mortally wounded, or whether he abandoned his friend to the murderer. The Fiat Panda was apparently abandoned shortly afterward in Settimo San Pietro. The friend of the murdered young man reportedly told investigators that he returned to Monserrato with another friend in an attempt to retrieve Mocci, but that he was not found. In fact, they did not return to the square where the attack took place, partly because the Carabinieri had already arrived, alerted by residents of one of the buildings. According to rumors, the signs of the attack are clearly visible on the boy's face.

The investigations

And the young man who escaped the attack is believed to be one of the two main witnesses questioned for several hours by the Carabinieri at the Via Nuoro station in Cagliari. The other is a young resident of one of the buildings overlooking the square who, after hearing the shot, reportedly saw Leonardo Mocci collapse and his friend run away. Investigators therefore believe it's impossible that no one saw the shooter. Throughout Thursday, and again yesterday, officers from the Investigative Unit questioned witnesses who they suspect were present in the square at the time of the crime. A dozen people were subjected to the stub test, a so-called paraffin glove used to detect gunpowder residue on hands or clothing. On Thursday night, after 10:00 PM, a large group of young people left the Via Nuoro station, some accompanied by lawyers who had been notified by their families. When no one was around, another young man—with the hood of his down jacket covering his face—emerged from the Carabinieri headquarters, escorted by several officers, and quickly got into a car. He was likely one of the key witnesses who are collaborating to uncover the killer.

Cell phone testing

Meanwhile, Leonardo Mocci's family has entrusted lawyer Fabio Basile to closely monitor the investigation. The case, coordinated by deputy prosecutors Enrico Lussu and Diana Lecca, is currently pending against unknown persons. The Prosecutor's Office already has a clear lead, as officers have reportedly searched an apartment in one of the buildings overlooking the square. The Carabinieri also have a clear idea of the reason that drove the murdered 23-year-old and his friend to the square, and they have identified all potential witnesses. Some interrogations lasted several hours, and several witnesses reportedly contradicted themselves: hence the possibility that some of them may soon be charged with aiding and abetting.

Francesco Pinna

Raffaele Serreli

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