A police car at a crime scene. Author; Campbell Jensen. Unsplash

10 Things To Know About The Murder Of Maurizio Gucci


 

Born on 26th September 1948, Maurizio Gucci was a renowned Italian businessman and the former head of the Gucci fashion house. Maurizio was the grandson of the company’s founder, Guccio Gucci, and his father, Rodolfo Gucci was an actor. He was a renowned person who had gained more popularity in Italy as well as worldwide before he was killed.

On 27th March 1995, Maurizio Gucci was unfortunately assassinated by a hired hitman. It is believed that his former wife, Patrizia Reggiani was the mastermind of his death. Maurizio Gucci had married Patrizia Reggiani in 1972, but his father had opposed their marriage.

Rodolfo Gucci had alleged that Patrizia was after money and had nothing to offer back. Maurizio and Patrizia had two daughters before they separated. At around 8:30 AM on a fateful day, Maurizio was walking up the staircases leading to the building of his private office located at Via Palestro 20 in Milan, Italy.

Suddenly, the hitman showed up with a gun and shot Maurizio thrice in the back and shoulder. The hitman completed his task by shooting a fourth and fifth time aiming at his head of Maurizio. Maurizio collapsed, and the shooter went ahead to shoot Giuseppe Onorato, the building’s doorman twice in his arm.

Below are the 10 Things To Know About The Murder Of Maurizio Gucci:

1. Maurizio Gucci was Assassinated by a Hired Hitman

A person holding out a gun. Author; Maxim Hopman. Unsplash

It was a normal morning on 27th March 1995 for Maurizio Gucci who was heading to his office. His private office was located at Via Palestro 20 in Milan, Italy. However, at around 8:30 AM that morning, everything turned bad as he was walking up the steps to his office.

A hired hitman who was following Maurizio Gucci brandished the gun he was hiding. He had been to assassinate him which he did with perfection before he was stopped.

2. Gucci was Shot 3 Times in the Back, Shoulder, and Twice in the Head

The hired hitman was precise with the task that he had been hired to do. He had followed Maurizio Gucci as he was climbing up to his private offices and brandished his weapon.

The hitman shot Maurizio Gucci three times in the back and shoulder which made him fall over. Maurizio was then shot in the head with the fourth and fifth bullets which made him collapse.

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3. The Building’s Doorman Witnessed the Whole Assassination Incident

During the assassination of Maurizio Gucci, there was one specific witness who saw the whole incident. At the Via Palestro 20, the doorman of the building witnessed how Maurizio Gucci was assassinated.

In an interview with The Guardian in 2016, Giuseppe Onorato, the doorman of the building narrated how he saw the hitman approach and shot at Gucci. He stated: “It was a lovely spring morning, very quiet. Mr. Gucci arrived carrying some magazines and said good morning. Then I saw a hand. It was a beautiful, clean hand, and it was pointing a gun.”

4. The Witness of Maurizio Gucci’s Assassination was Shot Twice

A guy holding out a gun. Author; Sebastian Pociecha. Unsplash

At the assassination scene, the building’s doorman was the only witness who also had to suffer. The hitman noticed the presence of Giuseppe Onorato and aimed his gun at him.

He shot him twice in the arm and leg as he hurriedly left the scene after completing his mission. Onorato recalled the incident as he stated: “The shooter saw me. He lifted the gun again and fired two more times. ‘What a shame, this is how I die’.” However, Giuseppe recovered from his gunshot injuries and resumed his duties.

5. Maurizio Gucci Died in the Arms of Giuseppe as the Shooting

Giuseppe Onorato was the only witness at the scene where the assassination took place. He was also shot twice in the arm before the hitman managed to escape into the streets.

After Maurizio Gucci had collapsed, Giuseppe rushed into the foyer of the building with his body. He sat with his body (the body of Maurizio Gucci) in a pool of blood until the authorities arrived. Maurizio Gucci died in the arms of Giuseppe Onorato.

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6. Maurizio Gucci Died from Head Trauma from the Last 2 Shots

Used bullet cartilage. Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

Maurizio Gucci died before police officers arrived at the scene after the shooting by the hitman who escaped. Police officers believed that the hitman was not professional because the first three shots were not fatal.

It was determined that Maurizio Gucci died from head trauma. The last two shots that hit him in his temple caused head trauma which eventually killed him on the spot.

7. Gucci’s Ex-Wife was Accused of Hiring the Hitman that Killed Him

The case of the murder of Maurizio Gucci continued dragging on for two years with the hitman who sent him being investigated. In 1997, Maurizio Gucci’s ex-wife, Patrizia Reggiani was arrested and accused of hiring the hitman who killed him.

This new revelation got the media nickname Patrizia as the “Black Widow.” Benedetto Ceraulo was the hitman who was hired by Patrizia to assassinate Maurizio Gucci.

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8. The Motive of Gucci’s Murder was Jealous and Desire for Patrizia to Own His Properties

Several theories had come up on why Patrizia Reggiani wanted Maurizio Gucci dead. Investigators believed that Patrizia was jealous and had resentment towards him.

They also argued that she wanted full control over the properties of Maurizio Gucci. Patrizia Reggiani also wanted to prevent Maurizio from marrying Paolo Franchi who was his partner which could’ve led to a reduction of her alimony.

9. Patrizia was Found Guilty, Sentenced to 26 Years, and Asked to Compensate Giuseppe

Police arrest picture of Patrizia Reggiani. Photo by Milan police. Wikimedia

In 1997, Patrizia was convicted of the crime and given a 29-year prison term. However, she requested for a reversal of the conviction in 2000 but was refused, but the appeal court reduced her sentence to 26 years. She had claimed that a brain tumor had impaired her judgment.

After serving 18 years, Patrizia was released from prison in October 2016 on good conduct. She is presently residing in Milan. The courts had made it a mandate for Patrizia to give Onorato a compensation of £142,000 for damages after her conviction in 1997. But Onorato claimed to have not gotten any of it when he spoke to The Guardian in 2016.

10. The Murder of Maurizio Gucci Inspired a Film and Books

The relationship between Maurizio and Patrizia served as an inspiration for the 2021 film House of Gucci, in which Lady Gaga and Adam Driver played the main roles. A book known as The House of Gucci inspired by the murder of Maurizio Gucci looked into the motives behind his murder and why Patrizia hired the hitman.

 

After the death of Maurizio Gucci, his daughter, Alessandra Gucci, and Allegra Gucci inherited the wealth he left behind. His death was a huge impact on his family and close friends.

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