Marsascala attempted murder victim says he is unsure who pulled the trigger

In the quiet, coastal town of Marsascala, a man lies in a hospital bed, his body a map of bandages and bruises. He’s a victim of an attempted murder, and he’s left with more questions than answers. “I don’t know who pulled the trigger,” he tells Hot Malta, his voice a whisper against the hum of the hospital ward.

The incident occurred on Triq il-Kbira, Marsascala’s main street, on a seemingly ordinary evening. The victim, a local man in his 30s, was walking home from a nearby bar when he heard the pops. Three bullets hit him – one in the stomach, one in the leg, and one grazed his head. He collapsed, bleeding, on the pavement.

Residents rushed out, their peaceful night shattered. “It was like something out of a movie,” says Maria, a Marsascala resident who prefers not to give her last name. “We heard the shots, then saw him lying there. It was terrifying.”

The police are tight-lipped about the investigation. “We’re following all leads,” says Inspector Ian Abela, the lead investigator. “But as of now, we have no motive, and no suspects.”

The victim, too weak for extensive interviews, can only shake his head when asked why someone would want to harm him. “I don’t know,” he says, his eyes filling with tears. “I’m just a regular guy. I work, I go out with friends. I don’t have enemies.”

Marsascala, a town known for its fishing boats and traditional houses, is on edge. Crime rates are low here, and violent incidents like this are rare. “It’s a peaceful town,” says Mayor Mario Spiteri. “We’re doing everything we can to keep it that way.”

The victim’s family is struggling to make sense of it all. “We just want to know why,” says his sister, her voice breaking. “And who. We need closure.”

The victim is stable but still in critical condition. The police are urging anyone with information to come forward. “No detail is too small,” says Inspector Abela. “If you saw something, heard something, please, tell us.”

The victim, his voice barely audible, has a message for his would-be killer: “I don’t know why you did this. But I forgive you. Just turn yourself in.”