Overland Park man accused of beating elderly shopkeeper to death in Italy
A 22-year-old Overland Park man was charged with murder Saturday in the brutal killing of a shopkeeper in Viterbo, Italy, according to media reports.
Michael Aaron Pang allegedly beat the 74-year-old shop worker to death after being unable to pay for clothes in a small town near Rome, Lt. Col. Guglielmo Trombetta of Italy’s paramilitary police, the Carabinieri, told CNN.
Police arrested Pang on Saturday, accusing him of killing Norveo Fedeli by hitting him with a stool. Fedeli’s body was found inside his store Friday.
Born in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, Pang attended Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, according to court documents. His attorney and relatives, listed as still living in Overland Park, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Pang is a graphic designer who arrived in Italy about two months ago. He rented a room at a bed and breakfast in the village of Capodimonte.
“He was gentle with everyone and always greeted everyone,” Trombetta told CNN. Pang reportedly doesn’t speak Italian and used his mobile phone translator to communicate.
Pang allegedly ordered designer clothes worth about $670 from Fedeli’s store and went to the store twice before Friday to purchase them. His credit card, however, was rejected.
A scuffle allegedly broke out between Pang and Fedeli before Pang killed the storekeeper, police said. Pang changed his clothes and took Fedeli’s wallet before fleeing with one of his shoes covered in a bag.
Police allegedly found Fedeli’s wallet and other evidence in the room Pang rented.
Pang, who is expected to appear in court Monday, faces murder and robbery charges.
In 2014, Pang pleaded guilty to possession or consumption of alcoholic liquor by a minor in Johnson County. He was given nine months of probation, court records show.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story was originally published May 5, 2019 at 1:21 PM.
