On July 19, 2026, a 42-year-old man known by the nickname "Fakir" died in the Pilastro district of Bologna during a law enforcement operation. The first results of the autopsy, released in the following days, indicate asphyxia as the cause of death, with blood found in the lungs and signs of bodily compression. Bruises were reportedly found on the victim's back, according to some news outlets.

The autopsy confirmed death by asphyxia, while the causes of the blood in the lungs remain under further investigation: examinations will need to clarify whether this finding is attributable to the violence sustained or to other factors, including possible substance use.

An investigation into the conduct of the officers involved is underway. The lawyers for the police officers stated that there was no excessive use of force. On the other hand, the lawyer for the victim's family, Fabio Anselmo, stated that the findings would be consistent with an asphyxiation pattern due to compression, supporting the theory of suffocation. These assessments represent the positions of the respective parties and not judicial conclusions.

It was known that the victim had an appointment scheduled for the month of August at a mental health center.

The case also fueled a broader public debate on the legitimacy of self-defense in cases of alleged abuse by officers in uniform, with editorial interventions discussing the boundaries of private self-defense and the role of oversight institutions.