(ANSA) - May 10, Pompeii - An Italian man shot himself in
the head in the parking lot of the Pompeii Sanctuary shortly
after praying inside and leaving behind a note blaming financial
hardship on Thursday.
Witnesses said Arcangelo Arpino, 63, was kneeling before a
painting of the Madonna of Pompeii before he left the church and
shot himself with a 7.65 caliber pistol near the exit where nuns
ran to the scene.
The man, married with three children, left behind three
suicide letters: one asking forgiveness from his family, another
outlining financial troubles linked to his realty business, and
a third chiding collection agency Equitalia for bills.
Italians who have killed themselves out of despair from the
widespread economic crisis are on the rise, averaging one a day,
according to the Eures think tank.
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