Officer shoots wife, kills himself

A 55-year-old police officer died by shooting himself with his service gun after shooting his 46-year-old wife outside a primary school in the Zakaki area of Limassol on Tuesday morning.

Police said the officer, who was on duty with the port police, had reported for work shortly after 6am, collected his service firearm and informed colleagues he would be away for a few minutes before returning.

The shooting occurred at around 6.35am while the woman was travelling to work.

Investigators are examining the sequence of events that led to the couple meeting at the scene, while personal and financial circumstances are among the lines of inquiry being assessed.

Authorities stressed that investigations remain at an early stage.

An eyewitness who stopped after hearing shouting described seeing the officer restraining the woman before the shooting.

“I saw a man holding a woman by the neck,” the witness told local media. “I told him to let her go.”

The witness said the woman appeared unable to speak and was gesturing for help.

“She was waving at me with her hand, asking for help,” he said.

He said the officer responded by telling him to leave because “she’s my wife” before threatening him when he intervened.

Emergency services arrived within minutes and found the officer dead at the scene.

The woman was taken by ambulance to Limassol general hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery.

Police later confirmed she remains intubated in an extremely critical condition.

Limassol police director Stelios Aristides said the officer had assumed duty at 6.07am and had been issued with the service firearm later used in the shooting.

“It is a common practice carried out by colleagues who take on duty,” Aristides said, referring to the issuing of service weapons at the beginning of a shift.

Aristides said statements would be taken from eyewitnesses, colleagues and other individuals who may assist the investigation.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail, police spokesman Vyron Vyronos confirmed the officer had his service gun with him even though they are generally not permitted to take service firearms home, except in very limited circumstances.

Deputy Limassol police chief Lefteris Kyriakou confirmed the victim attempted to attract the attention of passing motorists before the shooting.

“A member of the public tried to help, but failed, with this tragic result,” he said.

He added that police had immediately informed the Social Welfare Services because the couple have children, including one who is still a minor.

Women’s organisation Pogo described the shooting as an attempted femicide and said the case drew attention the continuing threat of violence against women.

“It is a tragic reminder that violence against women remains a harsh social reality,” the organisation said.

Pogo called for comprehensive policies to address gender-based violence, strengthen protection mechanisms and ensure “zero tolerance for violence against women”.

Gender Equality Commissioner Josie Christodoulou also responded, stressing that violence against women “is not a private matter or a family issue” but “a serious violation of women’s human rights and a blow to our society and democracy”.

She urged that public discussion surrounding the case remain “within a framework of respect and sensitivity” and expressed support for the injured woman and her family.