Ferdinand Gamper was born on September 12, 1957, in Merano, South Tyrol, Italy. He grew up in a family that worked in pastoral farming. As a child, many people described Ferdinand as shy and withdrawn. He often kept to himself. There were also reports that he might have had mental health issues. His father sexually abused him when he was young.

Ferdinand later worked as a pastor in Switzerland for several years. After that, he returned to South Tyrol and found a job in a hayloft in Riffian. Despite his work history, he struggled with the law. He had a criminal record that included charges for contempt and public intoxication.

From an early age, Gamper developed strong feelings against Italians. He did not even know the Italian language. Due to his beliefs, he joined a secessionist group called Ein Tyrol. This group wanted to annex South Tyrol to Austria..

Ferdinand Gamper committed six murders in South Tyrol, Italy, between February and March 1996. His first victims were 61-year-old Hans-Otto Detmering and 50-year-old Clorinda Cecchetti, who were killed on 8 February while walking near the Passer stream in Merano. Gamper shot them both in the back of the head. The motive was initially considered to be linked to a financial issue related to Detmering's job, but this was unclear.

On 14 February, Gamper killed another victim, 58-year-old Umberto Marchioro, near his home in Sinigo. The method was the same, and the same weapon was used. This raised the alarm that a serial killer might be active. Authorities arrested a young blogger named Luca Nobile, but he was later cleared of involvement.

On 27 February, Gamper murdered 36-year-old Paolo Vecchiolini in central Merano while Vecchiolini was with his girlfriend. She gave a description of the shooter, which helped identify a suspect. Shortly after, on 1 March, he also killed his neighbor, 58-year-old Tullio Melchiorri, in Riffian. Near Melchiorri's body, police found notes with messages reflecting racist beliefs.

Gamper was hiding at his farm after the last murder. When police attempted to approach him, Marshals were shot, leading to a firefight. During this, Gamper took his own life with a gunshot to the head. Authorities determined he was responsible for all six murders, using a specific rifle modified for concealment. After his death, investigation revealed deep-seated prejudices, particularly against Italians, as possible motivations for his crimes.