Man charged with attempted murder after shooting teen biker

A 38-YEAR-old man from Limassol has admitted to shooting a 16-year-old motorist while he was riding his racing motorbike on the Louvaras-Kakomallis road, police said yesterday.

The man, charged with attempted murder, was on a hunting trip with his father in the area on Monday afternoon. At about 4pm the men spotted the boy riding his racing motorbike and – annoyed at the noise the bike was making – the suspect’s father waved at the boy to stop.

When the boy refused, the 38-year-old opened fire with the shotgun he was holding. The victim was injured to the head, left shoulder, left thigh and leg, but managed to flee to a relative’s holiday home at Louvaras village where he told his family what happened.

A relative took him to Limassol General Hospital, where a doctor examined him and found three shotgun pellets in the boy’s head, a pellet mark on the left shoulder, four on the left thigh, two to the left knee, and one to the lower left leg. The 16-year-old was given first aid treatment and released.

Police officers from Limassol, Moni and Kalo Chorio arrived at the scene and arrested the 38-year-old, who was taken to Limassol Police headquarters for questioning. The man admitted that he had shot the 16-year-old, police said.

However, in his statement to police, the suspect said he had not intended to hurt the boy, but merely wanted to scare him off because he was making a lot of noise while riding his motorcycle.

No charges were brought against the 38-year-old’s father, who was with the suspect when he shot the boy. Police said that the man’s father was found to have had no involvement in the shooting.

Police searched the 38-year-old’s car and residence and confiscated two shotguns and a number of cartridges.

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