A police officer allegedly shot his wife and then took his own life in an incident that occurred shortly before 7am on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, outside a school in the Zakaki area of Limassol.
According to information available so far, the 55-year-old man used his service pistol to shoot his 46-year-old wife before turning the weapon on himself.
In its initial statement, police said one person was found dead at the scene with a gunshot wound. A woman was taken by ambulance from the scene suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and chest and was transported to hospital, where she was intubated.
According to reports, the couple met at the location after arriving in two separate vehicles. The same information indicates that they both exited their vehicles and became involved in an argument. The officer then allegedly shot his wife in the head and chest. He subsequently returned to his vehicle, where he is believed to have shot himself.
“He was holding her by the neck”
An eyewitness who was passing through the area in his car said he heard shouting and made a U-turn.
According to his account, he saw the officer holding the woman by the neck and shouted at him to let her go.
“He told me, ‘Get out of here, she’s my wife.’ Then he turned to her and said, ‘Tell him I’m not doing anything to you, you’re my wife.’ She wasn’t speaking, but she gestured towards me and was asking for help,” the witness said.
The witness further alleged that the officer removed his service pistol from his waist, pointed it at him and threatened him, saying: “Get out of here, I’ll shoot you.”
According to the witness, the officer then shot his wife once in the head and three times in the body before turning the gun on himself.
He said the incident unfolded in the middle of the road while the officer was wearing his police uniform.
The witness also clarified that the officer had been sitting in the front passenger seat while the woman was driving. The officer’s own vehicle was found parked at the same location.
Police investigation underway
Speaking from the scene, Limassol Police Director Stelios Aristeidou said police received information at 6:45am regarding a vehicle parked outside a school.
Police officers and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene, where they found a man with no signs of life and an injured woman.
According to Aristeidou, the deceased man was a member of the police force who had reported for duty at approximately 6:07am and had been issued his service pistol, which is believed to have been used in the incident.
He said there is currently no information regarding the circumstances under which the two individuals met, as the investigation remains at a very early stage.
Aristeidou also confirmed that the couple arrived at the location in separate vehicles, although the shooting took place inside the same vehicle and in the presence of witnesses.
He added that statements will be taken from eyewitnesses as well as the officer’s colleagues. So far, there is no information indicating any previous similar incident or related complaints.
He further stated that before leaving his workplace in his private vehicle, the 55-year-old informed colleagues that he would return within five minutes.
According to additional reports, the couple’s home is located a short distance from where the incident occurred.
The area remains cordoned off by police as investigations into the exact circumstances continue.
