Tonino Pireddu, a 38-year-old construction worker from Orani, Sardinia, was shot and killed Wednesday evening even as returning home from work, authorities confirmed. The shooting, which occurred on Corso Italia, has prompted a wide-ranging investigation by the Nuoro provincial Carabinieri command, focusing on the victim’s recent financial activities and potential debts.
While Pireddu had no prior criminal record, investigators are scrutinizing his recent foray into financial promotion alongside his employment with Siat installazioni. According to sources close to the investigation, Pireddu had been actively seeking additional income, a pursuit that may be linked to financial documents currently under review.
A key focus of the inquiry is an official notice of default recently delivered to Pireddu’s home by a law firm in Tuscany. The notice reportedly concerns a debt of approximately €150,000 stemming from the revocation of a land mortgage secured with a banking institution. Records indicate Pireddu had only paid 10 percent of the mortgage, which was used to purchase properties in San Teodoro. Investigators are exploring whether this debt played a role in the fatal shooting.
The investigation is also revisiting an incident from December, when Pireddu’s and his partner’s cars were set on fire. While the arson appeared unexplained at the time, authorities are now examining potential connections between the two events. Surveillance cameras installed by the couple following the arson are being reviewed for any relevant footage, though the perpetrator demonstrated considerable boldness, acting despite their presence.
“Tonino Pireddu was a man devoted to his home and work,” stated Marco Ziranu, the mayor of Orani. “He was a sensitive man.” Locals describe Pireddu as a passionate hunter and dog enthusiast, interests he shared with friends and acquaintances. Investigators are interviewing individuals within Pireddu’s hunting circle, seeking any information that might shed light on the circumstances surrounding his death.
An autopsy conducted Thursday in Cagliari by forensic pathologist Roberto Demontis, under the direction of Deputy Prosecutor Riccardo Belfiori, confirmed that Pireddu died from a single gunshot wound to the shoulder, fired from a distance of no more than six meters. Ballistics tests are underway to identify the weapon used in the shooting, which is believed to be a hunting rifle.
The community of Orani is in mourning. Mayor Ziranu announced the suspension of Carnival celebrations as a sign of respect. A funeral service for Tonino Pireddu is scheduled for 3:30 PM today, February 21st, at the Church of Sant’Andrea in Orani.
Manuela Porcheddu, Pireddu’s partner, posted a message on social media describing their private and loving relationship, and expressing dismay at inaccurate reports circulating about Pireddu’s character. “He was a MAN, with a capital M, always ready to help everyone,” she wrote.
