Mafia boss’s niece, 19, shot dead at Italian beach club amid bloody mafia battle between ruling crime families

The niece of a mafioso was shot dead in a nightclub, probably as part of a mafia war.

Antonia Lopez, 19, was reportedly killed while settling scores between gangs involved in drug trafficking and extortion.

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The young woman was shot dead at the Bahia nightclub in Puglia, Italy, while Michele Lavopa, 21, allegedly wanted to kill another man: Eugenio Palermiti, 21.

Lavopa turned himself in to police after his mother convinced him and confessed, La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno reports.

He has now been charged with manslaughter, four counts of attempted manslaughter and possession and carrying of a firearm.

The three people involved were all descendants of different criminal gangs. Lopez was one of Palermiti’s friends.

Lavopa allegedly fired seven bullets, hitting Lopez in the shoulder and severing her aortic artery, killing her within minutes.

Her family is believed to have long-standing ties to the Mafia, as many of her are members of the Strisciuglio clan, the Telegraph reports.

Her father is also serving a life sentence for murder and grievous bodily harm.

His grandfather is seen as the long-term boss of the group.

The Strisciuglio clan, consisting of Ivan and Francesco Lopez, was reportedly at war with the rival Parisi-Palermiti clan.

Four other people in their 20s were injured in the shooting.

One of the injured was Eugenio Palermiti, an alleged member of the Palermiti clan.

Authorities now fear a gang war will break out and a specialized anti-mafia unit is investigating the murder.

Puglia Governor Michele Emiliano said: “This is yet another clash between criminal gangs fighting for control of nightclubs and drug trafficking.”

Michele Picaro, a MEP from the region, said: “We have reached the point where people’s safety is seriously compromised, even in places where people are having fun or enjoying themselves.

“Our cities must not fall into the hands of criminal gangs.”

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