Fifty-four-year-old Kostas Parasyris never forgave 21-year-old Nikitas Gemistos, whom he held responsible for the 2023 road accident in which his son lost his life. On Tuesday afternoon, the 54-year-old shot and killed the young man with six bullets before handing himself in to the authorities, plunging Crete into mourning.
The charges facing the perpetrator of the cold-blooded murder are serious. Criminal proceedings have been brought against him for intentional homicide in a calm state of mind, while he also faces additional charges relating to the aggravated carrying of a firearm in complicity, illegal possession of ammunition, illegal use of a weapon and illegal possession of a weapon, according to neakriti.gr.
At the same time, criminal proceedings have also been brought against his wife for simple complicity in the homicide, as she was with him during the deadly attack. Both defendants appeared before the judicial authorities and were given until Monday at 14:30 to enter their pleas.
In footage published by protothema.gr, the 21-year-old can be seen getting out of his car shortly after colliding with the 54-year-old. Gunshots are then heard, along with a loud shout and a total of six bangs. Nikitas Gemistos immediately collapses onto the road.
The timeline of the murder
This, however, was not the first time the 54-year-old had attempted to harm the 21-year-old. On previous occasions, the young man had managed to escape. But not on Tuesday afternoon.
Kostas Parasyris was driving a Peugeot 206 along Papandreou Avenue in the Ammoudara area of Heraklion, with his wife in the passenger seat. When he saw the red Opel Corsa driven by 21-year-old Nikitas Gemistos in the opposite lane, he rammed it.
The two drivers got out of their vehicles and the 21-year-old managed to kick Parasyris. Parasyris then pulled out his revolver and shot him six times.
Nikitas fell to the ground covered in blood, while the 54-year-old began kicking him.
According to an eyewitness, the murder suspect kicked the dead 21-year-old twice.
Parasyris then got back into his car and, together with his wife, drove towards their home. At 19:20, they went to the Malevizi Police Station, where the 54-year-old handed over his weapon.
Gunpowder residue from the shots was found on the 54-year-old’s hands.
The authorities handling the case immediately went to the scene of the murder, where they found the body of the 21-year-old, as well as a bloodstain measuring around 50 centimetres approximately six metres from his car.
Following a police search of Kostas Parasyris’ home, officers found 250 cartridges, which he possessed illegally.
The beginning of the tragedy in 2023
The start of the tragedy dates back to 20 October 2023, when the car driven by young Nikitas crashed into a pole outside the Pankritio Stadium, seriously injuring his close friend, who was in the passenger seat. The young man was taken to hospital, where he died on 8 November 2023. The victim was the son of Kostas Parasyris.
Threats and breach of a court order
From early November 2023, 54-year-old Kostas Parasyris was unable to forgive Nikitas for the tragedy that had struck his family through the death of his son. He is alleged to have moved against the family, and specifically against the 21-year-old, several times between then and Tuesday afternoon.
On 24 July 2024, the Gemistos family filed a complaint with the authorities. At the time, they reported that both Kostas Parasyris and his wife had been making threats against him.
A few months later, on 26 December 2024, Nikitas again reported Parasyris for causing bodily harm and for using a weapon. The complaint led to the 54-year-old’s arrest at the time, and the shotgun he possessed was confiscated.
The most recent incident between the two families occurred on 4 March 2026, when Nikitas Gemistos filed a complaint at the Malevizi Police Station against Kostas Parasyris for breaching a court order.
He attacked him with a wooden object while wearing a hood
On 26 December, Kostas Parasyris, wearing a hood, approached Nikitas at around 03:00 and struck him on the arms and legs with a wooden object, injuring him. He then fired towards him but missed. Nikitas’ sister witnessed the incident and identified the 54-year-old.
Following a complaint filed by Nikitas, the 54-year-old was arrested under the fast-track procedure, while samples were taken from his hands to detect traces of gunpowder.
As part of administrative sanctions, the hunting shotgun that the 54-year-old legally possessed was removed from him. After being brought before the prosecutor, he was released.
He had breached restrictive conditions
Following the complaint filed by the Gemistos family against Kostas Parasyris, the court imposed restrictive conditions on him pending the final hearing of the charges against him.
On 4 March, Parasyris breached those conditions, prompting young Nikitas to go to the police station and file a new complaint.
The 54-year-old appeared at the police station of his own accord that same evening and was arrested. The following morning, on 5 March, he was released on the verbal instructions of the duty prosecutor, and the case file against him was submitted to the prosecution service.
He killed him on his birthday
On 5 May 2026, Nikitas’ life was cut short by the bullets of the 54-year-old father of his closest friend. The tragic irony is that the same day was Nikitas’ birthday.
Born on 5 May 2005, he had turned 21 that day. It was also to be the last day of his life.
Source: Proto Thema.
