Italy: Pop-star cancels concert after stagehand shot dead

Rome, 3 Aug. (AKI) - Italian singer Laura Pausini on Friday cancelled a concert planned for Saturday the day after a stagehand was shot dead.

The pop singer cancelled her performance in the southern city of Lecce after Valentino Spalluto, 20 years old, was killed by two bullets fired into his arm and head by a masked gunman in what appeared to be a targeted killing. The killer was seen escaping on a scooter, his head covered by a black helmet.

"The huge emotional impact that this tragic event had on the city along with the delay in the technical support and the impossibility of guaranteeing a safe situation, have convinced both the organizers and the artist to call the concert off and reimburse everyone's tickets" said the star's event organizers.