Back in the summer of 1997, South Beach in Miami, Florida, was a hot spot for models, actors, artists, and musicians – and one of the most famous residents was Gianni Versace, the 50-year-old Italian founder of designer fashion empire Versace. Living in a luxurious villa and in a committed long-term relationship, it seemed like he had it all – but, in a twist of fate, he was gunned down execution-style on his doorstep one summer morning.
Portrait of fashion designer Gianni Versace. Photo By Fairchild Archive/Penske Media/Shutterstock
Although the murderer was able to be easily identified and was later tracked down, much of the crime is surrounded in mystery. Several questions have gone unanswered, despite the Versace family’s quest to find the truth. Was Gianni targeted personally on that fateful day? What was the motive behind it? And had he ever met the perpetrator before? Read on to discover what we know about the brutal murder of Gianni Versace.