A 52-year-old Italian man has turned himself in to authorities in Milan following the fatal stabbing of a 37-year-old man on Savona beach, an incident authorities have confirmed was an isolated dispute between two individuals who knew each other.
The Incident
Yassine Mirinioui, a 37-year-old man of North African origin, was stabbed in the abdomen during a confrontation on the afternoon of July 5, 2024. The assault unfolded on the Prolungamento beach in Savona, a popular stretch of Ligurian coastline. Witnesses reported hearing the attacker shout "Impara a comportarti" ("Learn how to behave") before the stabbing occurred.
Emergency medical teams rushed the victim to San Paolo Hospital, where surgeons performed emergency abdominal surgery. Despite their efforts, Mirinioui succumbed to his injuries overnight, dying in the early hours of July 6.
The Italy State Police immediately launched a manhunt, circulating descriptions of the suspect.
Suspect Surrenders Within 24 Hours
Renato Mastroianni, a 52-year-old Italian national originally from the Veneto region but residing in Savona, contacted the 112 emergency line from Milan on July 6—less than 24 hours after the killing. He surrendered to officers without incident at a bar in the Lambrate district of Milan and has been taken into custody.
Investigators describe Mastroianni as living in "conditions of severe marginalization," regularly sleeping in abandoned buildings and frequenting social services shelters. While he has a criminal record related to property offenses, authorities have found no connections to organized crime or violent criminal networks.
During initial interrogations, Mastroianni reportedly told detectives he "had no intention of killing" Mirinioui, though prosecutors are proceeding with charges of voluntary homicide—Italy's equivalent to second-degree murder—which carries a sentence ranging from 21 years to life imprisonment.
The Dispute Over Shelter
According to witness statements and police reconstruction, the fatal encounter stemmed from a dispute over a place to sleep. Both men were part of Savona's homeless population, and tensions had apparently been building over access to informal sleeping areas near the beach.
Police Response
Local authorities have emphasized that the attack was an isolated incident between two individuals known to each other. The swift resolution of this case, with the suspect in custody within a day of the crime, demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated policing between Italian municipalities.
Mastroianni is expected to appear before a judge for a formal arraignment within 48 hours of his surrender. The Savona Prosecutor's Office is coordinating the investigation, with forensic teams having secured the murder weapon and conducted interviews with eyewitnesses who were present on the beach.
The victim's family is working with consular officials to arrange for Mirinioui's remains to be repatriated.
