An 89-year-old man is in custody after allegedly unleashing chaos across Athens in a shocking daytime shooting spree that left multiple people injured and sparked a massive manhunt stretching over 120 miles.
Authorities say the elderly suspect—described by local media as a garbage collector—was finally tracked down and arrested in Patra around 4:30 p.m., just hours after the terrifying attacks began. When police caught up with him at a hotel, he was reportedly still armed with a loaded revolver.
The violence erupted Tuesday morning inside a branch of Greece’s National Social Security Fund, where the man allegedly stormed in carrying a hidden shotgun beneath a trench coat. According to officials, he made his way up to the fourth floor, shouted for an employee to duck—and then opened fire.
At least one worker was struck in the leg, and panic spread quickly through the building.
But the rampage didn’t stop there.
After fleeing the scene, the suspect reportedly hailed a taxi and headed straight to a courthouse, where he fired again—this time injuring multiple employees as pellets ricocheted through the building. Three women were reportedly wounded, while another person was hospitalized suffering from shock.
In a bizarre twist, the suspect allegedly ditched his weapon inside a photocopier—along with a stack of documents—and shouted, “Here you will find the answers to what happened!” before disappearing.
Investigators are now digging into a possible motive that reads like something out of a thriller. Local reports claim the man had been locked in a years-long dispute over his pension, after being denied benefits in Greece despite reportedly receiving payments from the United States and Germany. His appeals were rejected years ago—but sources say the grievance may have boiled over.
Even more chilling: a relative reportedly tipped off police during the chaos, identifying the suspect and revealing he had a history of psychiatric hospitalization.
Authorities also uncovered what appears to be premeditation. Letters allegedly written by the suspect and addressed to newspapers hinted that something major was coming. One note, dated just days before the attack, ominously warned that a thick file of documents would soon explain everything.
And if that wasn’t enough, a taxi driver claims the man dropped a haunting clue the day before the shootings: “You’ll see what I’ll do tomorrow.”
Police have not officially confirmed a motive, but the disturbing sequence of events has left the country stunned—and raised serious questions about how a nearly 90-year-old man was able to carry out such a coordinated and violent spree.
The investigation is ongoing.
When this guy says, “get off my lawn,” listen to him!