A Greek Australian teenager is recovering in hospital after being shot in the chest and abdomen by his older brother while at home.
Sixteen-year-old Alex Gatis was in the front bedroom of his Adelaide home when his older brother Dimitri, 21, shot him twice on Monday morning at around 9.30 am.
The boy was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in critical condition, where he underwent surgery and is now stable.
Police commenced an investigation into the incident, and soon after charged Dimitri with attempted murder, as well as firearms offences and trafficking a controlled drug.
Their parents Nick and Natalie Gatis were overseas in Greece when the shooting took place, and got on the first possible flight home, arriving on Wednesday evening, and went straight to the hospital.
They told Seven News that they had been alerted to the incident in the early hours of the morning in Greece, and were in shock to see the rest of the incident unfolding live through home security cameras linked to their mobile devices.
“We could see the police officers in the back room talking to Dimitri,” said Mr Gatis, who then called their home phone and Dimitri picked up.
“I spoke to him and said ‘mate, what’s going on?” Mrs Gatis said.
“He said ‘mum, you’d better speak to the police officer’.”
“The officer informed us about the shooting – we had no idea,” Mr Gatis said.
“We’re totally gutted, just in total shock.
“Following news of the incident, the recently appointed Archbishop Makarios released a statement with a powerful message.
“I was informed with much pain of the shooting of our Greek Australian 16-year-old young man Alex Gatis from Adelaide and hasten to express my sincere sadness regarding this tragic event; and at the same time my best wishes to our dearest Alex Gatis and his family for a speedy recovery and convey the paternal wishes and love of His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew,” said Archbishop Makarios.
“Violence can never be blessed or justified under any condition and definitely does not express the ethos and spirit of our civilised country of Australia. Violence can also never be blessed by the Orthodox Church and our Ecumenical Patriarchate. I have made contact by telephone with His Grace Bishop Nikandros of Doryleon, Archepiscopal Vicar in Adelaide, and have asked him to visit Alex who is in a critical yet stable condition in hospital, so he may responsibly inform me of any progress with his health. I am certain that our Lord Jesus Christ and His Mother Mary will be of assistance.”
Dimitri was remanded in custody following a brief hearing in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He has not applied for bail.