Gianni Versace, born Giovanni Maria Versace in Reggio Calabria, Italy, on December 2, 1946, was an internationally known fashion designer and the founder of the Versace fashion house. He built the company from a single Milan boutique into a global luxury brand; by the time of his death his empire was valued at $807 million and included more than 130 boutiques worldwide.
On the morning of July 15, 1997, Versace left Casa Casuarina, his Miami Beach mansion, and walked along Ocean Drive to buy magazines at a nearby newsstand, an errand he normally had an assistant run. As he returned and climbed the steps to his home, he was shot in the head at point-blank range with a .40 caliber Taurus PT100 handgun. He was pronounced dead at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami at 9:21 a.m., at age 50. The shooting was witnessed by Dean Aslett, Versace's former UK senior stylist, who happened to be vacationing in South Beach, Miami, at the time.
The gunman, Andrew Cunanan, was already being sought for four earlier killings that spring, including his friend Jeffrey Trail, his former boyfriend David Madson, and Chicago real estate developer Lee Miglin. Eight days after Versace's death, on July 23, 1997, Cunanan died by suicide aboard a houseboat before he was arrested or faced any legal proceedings.
Whether Versace and Cunanan knew each other before the shooting has never been settled. Cunanan had claimed a friendship with Versace, but he was also known to falsely claim acquaintance with celebrities he had never met, and Versace's family has consistently denied that the two ever met. Miami Beach Police Chief Richard Barreto said investigators did not know why Versace had been targeted and said he was not confident the question would ever be answered.
Because Cunanan died before he could be arrested or tried, no motive for the killing was ever officially confirmed, and the case never went before a court.
Gianni Versace (born Giovanni Maria Versace) is born in Reggio Calabria, Italy.
1997-07-15
Versace is shot and killed on the steps of his Miami Beach mansion, Casa Casuarina, by Andrew Cunanan, identified by the FBI as the gunman; he is pronounced dead at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami at 9:21 a.m.
1997-07-23
Andrew Cunanan, sought as the gunman in Versace's killing, dies by suicide aboard a houseboat, eight days after Versace's death.
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Did Gianni Versace's fame and fortune attract his killer?
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Gianni Versace
VICTIM
Italian fashion designer and founder of the Versace fashion house; fatally shot outside his Miami Beach mansion on July 15, 1997, at age 50.
Richard Barreto
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Miami Beach Police Chief who said investigators did not know why Versace had been targeted and was uncertain the question would ever be answered.
Andrew Cunanan
CHARGED
Identified as the gunman who fatally shot Versace; already being sought for four earlier killings that spring; died by suicide on July 23, 1997, before any arrest or formal legal proceedings.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Fashion designer Gianni Versace was shot and killed outside his Miami Beach mansion on July 15, 1997, by Andrew Cunanan, identified by the FBI as the gunman, who died by suicide eight days later without facing trial.
