Background
Gianni Versace (1946–1997) was one of the best-known figures in Italian fashion. Born in Reggio Calabria, he built the Milan-based Versace label together with his brother Santo and sister Donatella into an international luxury house. By the 1990s he moved in wide circles across fashion, film and music.
Versace owned Casa Casuarina, a mansion on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, where he spent part of his time.
What happened
On the morning of 15 July 1997, Versace walked to a nearby café to pick up magazines. As he returned, he was shot on the front steps of the mansion. He was pronounced dead at Jackson Memorial Hospital at 9:21 a.m., at the age of 50.
Police soon concluded the attack was linked to a series of killings that had begun weeks earlier. Investigators identified Andrew Cunanan as the gunman. He was already wanted in connection with the deaths of four men and had been placed on the FBI's most-wanted list.
Versace was known in fashion for vivid prints and bold tailoring, and he had also designed costumes for the stage and opera. His death caused deep mourning in Miami Beach and made news around the world. Beyond the loss of a single designer, it was understood as part of a wider chain of events that unfolded while a nationwide search for the gunman was under way. Casa Casuarina now operates as a hotel and restaurant.
Versace was known in fashion for vivid prints and bold tailoring, and he had also designed costumes for the stage and opera. His death caused deep mourning in Miami Beach and made news around the world. Beyond the loss of a single designer, it was understood as part of a wider chain of events that unfolded while a nationwide search for the gunman was under way. Casa Casuarina now operates as a hotel and restaurant.
Investigation
Eight days after the shooting, on 23 July 1997, Cunanan was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot on a houseboat in Miami Beach. Because he died before being arrested, he was never charged or tried.
Police never established with certainty why Versace was targeted. Cunanan was known to make exaggerated claims about knowing celebrities. The FBI believed the two men may have crossed paths earlier in San Francisco, while the Versace family has always denied any acquaintance. The Miami Beach police chief at the time acknowledged that investigators might never learn all the answers.
Where it stands today
Versace's funeral was held at Milan Cathedral and was attended by more than 2,000 people. His ashes were placed in the family vault at Moltrasio, near Lake Como. In September 1997 his brother Santo became chief executive of the company and his sister Donatella took over as head of design.
The case was dramatised in the 2018 series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. The series is an interpretation of events; the underlying motive remains unknown.