The police are investigating a possible link between a series of murders that have taken place over the last two years, after an elderly man was shot dead in Żejtun yesterday afternoon in the third killing in just over a week.

Peter Cassar, known as Pietru l-Ħaqqu, 67, was shot twice, in the neck and chest, in his garage in Triq Santa Marija just after 2pm, Assistant Commissioner Silvio Valletta said yesterday during a crime conference.

Mr Cassar’s death comes eight days after Joseph Galea, known as il-Ġilda, was gunned down while seated in his car parked in front of his Marsa apartment.

The police are looking into whether there is a connection between Mr Cassar’s murder, Mr Galea’s and the contract killings of Paul Degabriele, is-Suldat, Joseph Cutajar, il-Lion, and Josef Grech, known as il-Yo-Yo.

“These are not indiscriminate shootings,” Mr Valletta said. “These murders could be linked. However, we are investigating and not excluding anything.”

Mr Valletta said Mr Cassar had been hit twice with a 9mm gun and staggered out of the garage, probably to seek help. He collapsed on a doorstep on the other side of the street and fell to the ground. His lifeless body was found face up with his right hand outstretched.

The shots were heard in the narrow road just metres away from a tiny chapel, and it was a neighbour who called the police. Last October Mr Cassar was briefly remanded in custody after he was accused of being in possession of explosives, two unlicensed pistols, a machine-gun, an air gun and a large bomb – possibly a World War II aerial bomb – as well as booby trap equipment. He faced a total of 20 charges.

When asked whether Mr Cassar had been investigated by the police after a bomb was placed under a truck belonging to Mr Degabriele in October 2012, Mr Valletta said it was not prudent to speak about police investigations or whether there was a connection between the two.

Community shocked as man gunned down in daylight

The following May, Mr Degabriele was gunned down at close range in broad daylight just outside Sammy’s Bar in Marsa.

Mr Valletta refused to say how many shots were fired yesterday, saying it would compromise the investigation. However, at least three “weren’t fired from far away”, he said.

Soon after the shooting, police officials and forensic experts arrived and covered Mr Cassar’s body with a sheet.

The connecting roads were closed off with police tape but curious onlookers and residents quickly gathered to see what had happened.

Neighbours said screams from family members were heard as news of the murder spread through the village.

What you do in your life always catches up with you

However, not everyone seemed to be shocked at the news – one woman remarked that “what you do in your life always catches up with you”.

Mr Cassar was wearing a brown woollen jersey and a scarf around his neck.

A canopy was set up next to the body to protect evidence from the rain as forensic experts and police officers examined the crime scene.

Members of the army’s bomb disposal unit were on site together with the police sniffer dogs. When asked whether anything had been found, Mr Valletta said the bomb squad were still searching.

He urged anyone who had information about the incident to contact the police confidentially on 119.

In another murder this week, a young Serbian man was stabbed in Qawra on Tuesday after an argument over loud music.

A trail of violent murders

March 15, 2012

■ A night-time shootout in a Marsascala apartment block garage leaves Kevin Gatt dead and Stephen Zammit seriously wounded.

Mr Gatt, 32, from Għaxaq is found dead in a stolen Hyundai Accent, alongside Mr Zammit, 32, from Fgura. Both men are wearing gloves.

A third man, Joseph (Ġużeppi) Cutajar, 45, who is slightly injured, directs the police to the car, saying the men shot at him first.

Mr Cutajar, known as Lion, is charged with the murder of Mr Gatt and the attempted murder of Mr Zammit – this charge is subsequently changed to murder after Mr Zammit dies in hospital.

He is later released on bail.

October 2, 2012

■ A homemade bomb containing a kilo of explosive material is found under the Toyota pick-up of Paul Degabriele, known as is-Suldat, near his Fgura flat. CCTV footage shows two hooded men near the vehicle.

December 12, 2012

■ Mr Cutajar is killed in Mosta at 8.30am with a Kalashnikov. A few hours later Josef Grech, 41, from Balzan, il-Yo Yo, is found dead with a shot in the head in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq.

Mr Grech was due to face a trial over his alleged involvement in the murder of a 55-year-old woman, Patricia Attard, who was shot dead at Ta’ Qali on February 13, 2004.

May 31, 2013

■ Mr Degabriele is shot dead in Marsa at 11am shortly after leaving a bar. Several shots are fired from a 9mm semi-automatic pistol. His assailants were in a stolen white van.

July 18, 2013

■ Mario Camilleri, known as l-Imnieħru, and his son Mario Jr are found dead and partially buried in a field in Qajjenza a day after they are reported missing. The body parts of another man, Matthew Zahra, who went missing a year earlier, are also found in the field.

Jason Galea is charged with the murder of his brother-in-law Mario Camilleri and nephew Mario Jr. He is also accused of Mr Zahra’s murder.

George Galea, 41, a security guard is also charged with the murder of the Camilleris while Ronald Urry, 49, is also charged with Mr Zahra’s murder.

February 4, 2014

■ Joe Galea, 58, of Marsa, known as il-Ġilda, dies of gunshot wounds. He is hit by five bullets while in his car outside his home. The bullets are believed to have been fired by two men using a 7.62 calibre assault rifle. The shots are fired from a silver Toyota Rav 4.

February 12, 2014

■ Peter Cassar, 68, known as Pietru Il-Ħaqqa, is shot dead at 2pm on a doorstep in Triq Santa Marija, Żejtun.

Compiled by Kurt Sansone