ROME — Milan police reportedly have security camera images that apparently show the killer of an Iranian-Jewish businessman entering the victim’s carpet shop after hours.
Parviz Gorjian, 79, was found dead on Thursday night in the shop in a pool of blood.
The security camera images indicate that the suspected killer may have been there by appointment — Gorjian only met at his shop office with “known and select clientele,” the Milan Jewish community’s website reported.
Gorjian, who immigrated to Italy with his family nearly 40 years ago, was stabbed in the throat and had suffered other knife wounds, according to the community and other reports.
First reports said the killing appeared to be a robbery gone wrong, but other theories said it may have been rooted in business.
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition
by email and never miss our top stories
By signing up, you agree to the
terms
According to news reports, Gorjian and his family traded in valuable Persian carpets and precious stones. The victim’s cellphone and wallet were missing, but none of the carpets in the shop appeared to have been taken.
His body was discovered by his son after Gorjian failed to return home.
The Jewish community’s website said Gorjian was an “esteemed member” of the Persian Jewish congregation in the city and that his murder had strirred “profound pain and consternation in the entire Jewish community.”
Reports described Gorjian as a well-off, elegant and highly respected man.
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
— Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist
Support our work
Support our work
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this