Overview
- A longtime pizzeria owner, Raffaele Stipa, was fatally stabbed during a late Monday evening altercation inside Pizzeria Yoghi on via Gran Sasso d’Italia.
- Police recovered the shop’s internal CCTV soon after the attack and used the footage to identify and arrest 42–43-year-old Andrea Pellati during the night following the killing.
- Investigators say the dispute began over repeated requests for free pizzas and a small unpaid sum reported at about €20, which prosecutors say started the confrontation earlier that day.
- The Procura of Reggio Emilia has contested aggravating circumstances, including alleged premeditation, arguing the footage shows the suspect returned with the sole intent to kill; the arrest convalida and pretrial steps are now pending.
- The victim’s sister, Antonella Stipa, was injured while trying to defend her brother and was hospitalized but is not reported to be in life-threatening condition, and the case has raised local concerns about small-business safety and care for people with substance or mental-health problems.