2 San Francisco Men Accused In Murder Of Italian Cop

Two Americans from San Francisco have been arrested in connection with the murder of an Italian police officer in Rome, according to a news report from CNN.

Italy's Carabinieri police force told CNN that the two 19-year-olds were arrested for "aggravated murder and attempted extortion." The officer, identified as Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, died after being stabbed eight times in the early morning hours of Friday, according to a statement from the Carabinieri.

According to the CNN report, the two men had stolen a backpack from an Italian citizen and said they would return it for 100 euros and one gram of cocaine. The Italian contacted police and cops showed up to retrieve the backpack but when they identified themselves as officers, one of the men stabbed Rega, the report says.

The men were identified by the Carabinieri as Christian Gabriel Natale Hjorth and Elder Finnegan Lee, CNN reports.

Only one of them is accused of stabbing Rega but both men admitted to police to taking part in the altercation, according to the report.

Rega was newly married and had celebrated his birthday just two weeks ago.

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