More and more details about what happened after the murder of the 43-year-old man in Agrinio are coming to light. The sister of the 30-year-old blessed described what happened until the police managed to find and arrest him.
The 30-year-old, for more than 17 hours, wandered around his father’s house in the village of Myrtia, outside Agrinio. It is said that he stayed for a while in a remote church and then wandered the fields and hid in warehouses.
“Give me water and I will die”
In fact, he threatened to end his life, but in the end it was not after a conversation he had with Giorgos Kalliakmanis. “All night long I looked in the window to see if he would come. At one point I went out to the balcony door and saw him coming, then I called my mother too. I did not see what time this happened. I called him, and he said “give me water and I’m going to die” and he was holding the gun.
I told him I will come with you and whatever happens will get us together. He was running ahead, I was stopping him bit by bit and at some point he had nowhere else to go, he was at a dead end. Then I said to him “do you want to talk to our friend Giorgos Kalliakmanis?” and said to call him. They spoke for an hour and a half on the phone,” said the activist’s sister to Nuacht BEO.
At the same time, the 30-year-old’s sister confirmed that he was receiving medication, and they informed the police about it.
Kalliakmanis intervention
Somewhere in there, Giorgos Kalliakmanis was involved in the situation. The honorary president of the Union of Police Officers n/a Attica said among other things: “When they called me and told me to contact his sister and I started talking to her and she told me that he has a gun to his temple and that he wants to kill himself (her brother).
I also started talking to him and at the same time I thought I would influence him if I told him about his sister, his child and his mother. So I told him “if you pull the trigger you will kill more than the girl who shot the three people” then he started to bow”.
The ELAS announcement
A local man was arrested, today at noon, in Myrtia, Etoloakarnania, by police of the Agrinio Deputy Security Director and the Agrinio OPKE, with the assistance of a negotiator from the Akarnania Police Directorate, against whom a criminal case was filed, for intentional homicide and violation of the gun law.
In particular, last night, in Agrinio, the accused shot a local woman with a firearm and wounded her in the abdomen, and then fled.
Police officers of the DI.AS team. of the Agrinio Department of Immediate Action to the scene of the crime, where they found the woman with a wound in the abdomen, naming the arrested person as the criminal who shot her and helped her transport immediately to the EKAB station, at the General Agrini Hospital, where the patient succumbed to his injuries.
To arrest the accused, police officers from the Agrinio Security Sub-Directorate and the Agrinio OPKE set up an organized police operation, with the participation of negotiators from the Akarnania Police Directorate, which led to the detection and arrest of the accused. this afternoon, in Myrtia, Etoloakarnania.
“He had a revolver and a knife”
In his possession, police officers of the Agrinio Security Directorate found and confiscated a revolver armed with nine cartridges, a knife, -21 – more cartridges and two mobile phones.
It is noted that the defendant was also arrested in September of 2024, after a lawsuit filed against him by the victim, for domestic violence, because when she had a kitchen knife in her house, he threatened her verbally, which scared and worried her. .
The competent Prosecuting Authority imposed the restrictive conditions on the defendant regarding not contacting the victim for a distance of less than -50 meters and the prohibition of communication with her, and two shotguns and the relevant firearms licenses were revoked. For the same situation, the patient did not wish to be given a panic button and moved to a secure accommodation structure.
The arrested person will be brought to the First Degree Prosecutor of Etoloakarnania.
The preliminary investigation is carried out by the Agrini Security Sub-Directorate.
Interview between Time.news Editor (T.N.E) and Crime Analyst & Psychologist Dr. Sofia Eloundou (D.S.E)
T.N.E: Welcome, Dr. Eloundou. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the troubling events that unfolded in Agrinio.
D.S.E: Thank you for having me. It’s important to shed light on these situations, not just for the victims but also for understanding the psychological dynamics at play.
T.N.E: Absolutely. So, let’s start with the situation surrounding the 30-year-old man. He reportedly spent over 17 hours evading police. What might be going through someone’s mind during such a prolonged period of hiding and distress?
D.S.E: When someone is in a state of crisis, as this individual seems to have been, their cognitive processes can become severely impaired. During this time, they may oscillate between panic, despair, and a desperate desire to escape their reality. The act of hiding—whether in a church or warehouses—can be a reflection of feeling cornered, both psychologically and physically.
T.N.E: The sister described a pivotal moment where she spoke with him and managed to coax him out of hiding. How critical are these interpersonal connections in crisis situations?
D.S.E: They are vital. Human connection can act as a lifeline. It’s clear that she was a stabilizing presence for him in that moment. Her willingness to engage and threaten not to leave him alone could have had a grounding effect. This speaks volumes about the role of family and close relationships in providing emotional support during moments of severe distress.
T.N.E: There was also an intervention by a figure named Giorgos Kalliakmanis, who talked to the man and attempted to influence him. What methods can be effective in such high-stress negotiations?
D.S.E: De-escalation techniques are essential. Maintaining a calm demeanor and employing empathetic listening can help create an atmosphere of trust. Kalliakmanis’s approach—reminding the individual about his family—was particularly strategic, as it shifted the focus from self-harm to the broader impact of his actions on loved ones.
T.N.E: It’s reported that this man was under medication. How does a history of mental health challenges interlace with such violent incidents?
D.S.E: Mental health plays a complex role in violent behaviors. While it’s a mistake to assume that all individuals with mental health issues are violent, the stigmatization and lack of support can lead to tragic outcomes. Proper care and medication adherence are vital, and when someone veers away from that, it can result in dangerous scenarios, both for themselves and others.
T.N.E: In this case, the accused is now facing serious charges including intentional homicide. What are the implications for the community and for the families involved?
D.S.E: The ramifications are profound. For the victims, it’s a matter of community safety and trust, while for the perpetrator’s family, it often leads to feelings of guilt, shame, and stigma. Community responses can vary; some might rally around the victims while others may unfairly target the family of the accused, creating an environment of fear and division.
T.N.E: Lastly, from a psychological standpoint, what steps can communities take to prevent such violent incidents in the future?
D.S.E: Communities need to prioritize mental health awareness and accessible resources. Education about mental health issues can diminish stigma, and proactive outreach can help individuals get the support they need before they reach a crisis point. Alongside this, community policing and crisis intervention training for officers can facilitate better responses to potential threats.
T.N.E: Thank you, Dr. Eloundou, for your valuable insights on this incident. It’s clear that addressing the underlying issues in our communities, particularly regarding mental health, is essential for preventing future tragedies.
D.S.E: Thank you for bringing attention to this crucial topic. It’s discussions like these that can pave the way for meaningful change.