An Italian TikToker who came out as a transgender before identifying as non-binary has taken his own life after internet bullies targeted him for changing his gender identity.
Davide Garufi, 21, came out as a transgender woman and asked his followers to call him Alexandra.
A few months later, the content creator reportedly said he had decided to go back to using his birth name, telling fans that he instead identified as non-binary and would use male pronouns again.
The announcement sparked a conversation about his gender identity among his followers, with some hurling abusive and transphobic comments on his page.
Tragically, on March 19, Garufi shot himself dead at the home he shared with his family near Milan, police said.
A probe has been launched into his death, with police looking into possible third-party involvement.
Two case files have reportedly been opened for possible incitement to su!cide and failure to correctly store a firearm.
The weapon Garufi used to take his own life had reportedly been loose in a backpack in the house.
Reports in Italian media earlier suggested that police were looking into whether hate comments online caused his death, but authorities have now said that the probe is not directly linked to these messages, ANSA cites.
Investigators are now focusing on the analysis of Garufi’s computer and phone and have heard testimony from his friends and boyfriend.
