Update with shooting at Deaf International Summer Festival: Interview with Deaf Bones
Renca Dunn, Daily Moth Reporter: This is the third follow up story about what happened this recent summer in July 2024 with the shooting at the Deaf International Summer Festival in Italy. We gave two reports, one was about what happened at the festival and one was more details on the situation and an interview. We will show you screenshots.
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Links to the two stories in July are in this transcript. Now, this is a quick update- the two Deaf brothers that shot at the three Deaf people- those three are part of a motorcycle group called Deaf Bones. The first one is Ettore Cró and the second one is Vincenzo Spera, unfortunately both of them passed away. The third one is Alessio Pozzati and he has survived. Ettore passed away on August 5th 2024 at 4:30pm and then Spera passed away on August 9th also at 4:30 pm. The both of them passed away 4 days apart but at the exact same time- 4:30pm. The survivor, Alessio, will be part of the interview today.
The two Deaf brothers- Gaetano and Raffaele Ciccarelli, based on what we know and on the articles, they did turn themselves in after they shot at the group. Both of them did get arrested. However, it is not clear to us when the court date will be and what the final decision is.
We also want to make it clear that what happened has nothing to do with the Deaf International Summer Festival and the two Deaf brothers- what happened is not related to the festival. This is the same with the two Deaf brothers shooting at Deaf Bones- there is no relationship or any prior history between the two. The community there informed us that it was really a “spur of the moment” type of incident. No one really understands why it happened because there were really no underlying issues between them.
Now this is an interview with Deaf Bones. We want to let you know that the interview is done with a mix of Italian Sign Language and International Sign. We have captions and a transcript provided for clarity.
Founder of Deaf Bones- Filippo Collerone: The Deaf Bones motorcycle group was founded in 2012. There were Deaf groups who loved riding motorcycles. We got together and made Deaf Bones official. There are many hearing groups so we knew Deaf can do the same. We have been going strong. Its been about 12 years.
President of Deaf Bones- Gitto Salvatore: I am the president of Deaf Bones. Giovanni here is the vice president. Gennaro is responsible for keeping information updated to the community. I have been the president for 7 years and we are located in Bologna. The three of us together have been in this position for 7 years. So, Deaf Bones was founded in 2012 and this specific Bologna location was set up in 2018 and we have been growing ever since.
Renca: How many Deaf people are part of the Deaf Bones organization?
Gitto: Altogether here in Italy there are 21 people. This includes our locations in Sicily, Naples- but unfortunately that location closing out now, and Bologna. So, altogether there are 21 members.
Renca: The Deaf Bones group went to the Deaf International Summer Festival this recent July and unfortunately that shooting happened. You all were there and what is the reason that Deaf Bones was there at the festival?
Gitto: We always like to be there at festivals and to share positive energy. Ettore is from Naples and the Deaf festival was nearby so Ettore joined as a staff and asked Deaf Bones to come to the festival. Also, it was a 5 years celebration for the Deaf Bones location in Naples. We wanted to be there to celebrate that then join in the Deaf festival then that shooting happened. It was an unfortunate turn of events.
Filippo: You see, we also had a booth at the festival. We sold some Deaf Bones stuff. We sell our merch to raise support to help children in need, poor people, and more. We want to help various Deaf communities in the world.
Renca: I know that all of you were shocked that the shooting happened. None of you knew why it happened.
Filippo: Yes we were shocked. For the past 12 years, nothing bad happened with Deaf Bones. It has always been positive. We would go to different festivals. We don’t have any problem with anyone. It has always been fun and positive with everyone. This is the first time that it has happened. I am shocked. I am traumatized from it. Truly we had no problems with anyone. So yes, I am shocked as that is expected.
Renca: Now, we will interview Alessio, the survivor.
Renca: The three of you were shot and where were you shot?
Deaf Bones member; survivor- Alessio Pozzati: Yes, when I saw the shooting, I tried to cover my face. So, I crossed my arms like this- the bullets went to my wrist and then I fell down and another one went to my lower back near one of my organs. I still was able to get up and I limped into the building. My mind was not clear as I was losing a lot of blood. So, I fainted in the building. Deaf people around me tried to help me and kept tapping on my face to make me stay awake. I went to the hospital and was in a coma for 10 days. I was not able to eat. The doctors had to continue injecting fluids in me. This continued for three weeks and I lost a lot of weight. I was still in some pain. I was able to go back home in an ambulance because I could not walk. The medical staff had to lift me up and lay me down back in my home. I was bedridden for two months then I gained strength to walk again. However the pain in my body is still there. It’s not the same as before. My wrist here is bad. I need to have surgery. I am doing okay, but slowly.
Renca: How are you doing now though? Can you ride your motorcycle again?
Alessio: I am doing all right, but now I cannot ride my motorcycle. I will need to have surgery and therapy until it is healed then I can ride again.
Renca: You are still with Deaf Bones now so what do you want to see in the future for Deaf Bones?
Alessio: Yes, I am still with them. I want people to open their minds and always remember the two people that passed away- Ettore and Spera. We cannot fall apart. We must continue to move forward.
Renca: I asked the Deaf Bones group what memories they have with Ettore and Spera.
Gitto: As the Deaf Bones location here in Bologna started in 2018, about a year later, Ettore wanted to join us. When I met him, we bonded right away. He was a great person. I knew he was perfect for Deaf Bones. I let him join us and work with us. He was such a positive person. He was an advocate, but also loved to have fun, tease people, good at acting, and made people laugh. He was great. If there was an event, people would ask us if Ettore would be there because they wanted to be there too. We would host parties, people would ask us if Ettore would be there so they would come. He was well liked and people loved him. He really did not have any problems with anyone. He was such a positive person. Now, he is gone. It is different. My heart aches. You see this vest here? That belongs to Ettore. This makes us feel he stays close to us. We really love him. It is impossible to forget him.
Filippo: I will talk about Spera- he was an older man. He respected people. He worked hard. He always followed the rules. Like if problems came up and I told him to fix it, he would do it right away. He always did his job. He joined Deaf Bones. He used to be part of other groups but they had problems so he wanted to join us. He had a good mind, he knew a lot of legal stuff about motorcycles. Knowing motorcycle stuff was like part of who he was. He was great with Deaf Bones. We also worked closely together. He would do his tasks effectively like when we open up Deaf Bones for people to come, he would get the food, drinks, other items ready. I would tell him what he would need to do and he would do it without asking questions. He took care of many stuff. He was a great person. I am sad that he died. Now, I am training a new person in our Deaf Bones group to do the usual tasks that Spera did. See this- it is Spera’s motorcycle.
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Vice President of Deaf Bones- Giovanni Pinto: Since what happened at the festival, it has been heavy. However we must remember that we have to move forward too for better days for Deaf Bones and keep moving up. There is nothing we can do with the past, but look into the future and not be discouraged.
Spokesman of Deaf Bones- Gennaro Ciardiello: I want us to continue working with children in need, help solve problems when they arise, and continue to fundraise to help people. In the past, Ettore has done a lot of work with raising support. Now, he is gone, we must continue the work he has done. We must be more self-initiative to do more advocacy work. I do hope in the future we as Deaf Bones, continue to be strong.
Renca: The Deaf Bones group also mentioned that it is important that we continue to have a positive mindset and move forward. We, Daily Moth, want to thank Deaf Bones for their time to be interviewed and our thoughts are with you.
Links:
1st story: https://www.dailymoth.com/blog/shooting-at-deaf-international-summer-festival-in-italy-three-injured
https://www.blogsicilia.it/trapani/sparatoria-biker-marsalese-morto/1044313/