Erminio Criscione was born on December 3, 1955, in Mineo, Sicily, Italy. He later emigrated to Switzerland, residing in the German-speaking region before moving to the canton of Ticino. Initially, he lived in Rivera and, in 1988, settled in Cimo. Criscione worked as a butcher and later as a sales representative for a meat company. Acquaintances described him as a quiet, reserved individual who loved animals. At the time of the incident, he was attending a wholesale meat suppliers training course. He reportedly faced financial difficulties and had failed a class taught by one of his eventual victims.

On the evening of March 4, 1992, Erminio Criscione embarked on a shooting spree across several towns in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. Armed with a Norinco 7.62mm rifle, a Chinese copy of the Kalashnikov, he targeted individuals with whom he had prior conflicts.​

Origlio (7:25 p.m.): Criscione shot a friend and co-worker in both legs.
Soresina (7:45 p.m.): He attacked a family during dinner, killing four members and wounding three others.
Massagno (8:00 p.m.): Criscione shot the wife of his former instructor in the legs and left a message: "Tell him I'll be back."​
Rivera (8:20 p.m.): He killed a local official, his wife, and one of their children.​

Criscione attempted additional attacks but was unsuccessful. He eventually called his wife, stating he had "made a mess," and surrendered to police in Camorino around 9:15 p.m.

While in custody, Criscione was closely monitored. However, on March 9, 1992, during a guard shift change, he hanged himself in his cell using a bedsheet tied to the window bars. An autopsy revealed injuries suggesting he had been beaten, possibly during an altercation with guards.