A 28-YEAR-old man from Limassol had a close call after being gunned down late on Thursday night, in what police describe as the latest incident of gangland violence.
Under cover of darkness, unknown assailants fired a round of shots at Skevos Prodromou with an automatic rifle, seriously injuring him. Bleeding, Prodromou then staggered to the nearby Limassol general hospital, shouting “Help me, I’ve been shot.”
The 28-year-old has been placed on life support; his condition is said to be grave but not life-threatening. Before passing out, he named one man whom he suspected set him up for the murder attempt.
According to what he was able to tell police, Prodromou had arranged a meeting with a 28-year-old “friend” to purchase drugs at an out-of-the-way site close to the hospital. Shortly after speaking on the phone, Prodromou reached the specified location.
But the drug deal never happened. Barely had Prodromou got out of his car than he came under a hail of fire. He was hit three times – on the mouth, the abdomen and hand. The suspects then fled the scene.
Police cordoned off the area and carried out a sweep, finding a plastic bag containing paper napkins but no traces of narcotics. Detectives also began searching for the suspect identified by Prodromou.
A total of 18 bullet shell casings were found at the site. Ballistics said the weapon used was a 7.62mm automatic.
The suspect yesterday showed up at Limassol police headquarters accompanied by his lawyer. He has been detained for questioning, and will tomorrow appear before a magistrate, who is expected to issue a remand.
According to reports, the suspect is not being fully co-operative with investigators.
Deputy police chief Theodoros Stylianou, who visited the crime scene on Thursday night, said yesterday that police were searching for a number of suspects, but did not elaborate.
It was the third attempt on Prodromou’s life over the past year. Last month he had a near miss when suspects threw a makeshift bomb at him outside his house. And four months ago his car was torched.
Skevos Prodromou is the brother of Panicos, a National Guard officer gunned down last July in the entrance of his residence in Limassol.
The slaying took place before the very eyes of Skevos, who at the time said he recognised the shooters, swearing on camera that he would “cut them in pieces”.
At the time, authorities speculated the crime was linked to the murders of 40-year-old Nicosia betting shop owner Pambos Psaras who had been gunned down while in his car on the traffic lights, and Kyriacos Kyriacou, 48, a government Press and Information Office employee.
Skevos had been in trouble with the law in the past, again in connection with drugs dealing.
