Martina Scialdone was shot on Rome street.

Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri has called for a debate on gun control after a woman was shot dead outside a restaurant by her former partner on Friday night.

The woman, 34-year-old lawyer Martina Scialdone, was reportedly shot by Costantino Bonaiuti, 61, following a heated argument on Viale Amelia near the Tuscolana train station.

The row began inside the restaurant, according to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, and continued outside where Scialdone was reportedly shot at close range.

Bonaiuti, an engineer of Ethiopian origin, fled the scene in his car before being tracked down and arrested by police, according to Italian news reports.

Corriere della Sera reports that Bonaiuti frequented the same Tor di Quinto shooting range as Claudio Campiti, the man accused of killing four women during a condominium meeting in the Fidene suburb of Rome a month ago.

Il brutale assassinio di #MartinaScialdone ci sconvolge tutti. #Roma si stringe al dolore dei familiari, degli amici, dei colleghi di questa giovane brillante avvocata. Dobbiamo a lei tutto il nostro impegno affinché simili tragedie non accadano mai più. https://t.co/q8IA6Wjk4r pic.twitter.com/qyyFaMca7r

— Roberto Gualtieri (@gualtierieurope) January 15, 2023

"The brutal murder of Martina Scialdone killed mercilessly by her ex-partner shocks us all", wrote Gualtieri on Facebook.

The mayor offered condolences to the family, friends and colleagues "of this brilliant young lawyer, who in her professional work dealt with family law, and also with gender violence. That same criminal violence of which she was the innocent victim, and which is a dramatic and worrying phenomenon that must be opposed with all strength, at all levels, everywhere."

Gualtieri called for "a reflection on the need to limit the possession of weapons, reducing the number in circulation, to increase the safety of everyone", adding: "We owe Martina all our commitment, personally, so that such atrocious tragedies never happen again."