Mendoza police wound assailant following violent robbery inside ride-sharing vehicle
An off-duty police auxiliary opened fire on one of his attackers whilst working as a driver for the Maxim app. The wounded suspect was admitted to hospital under police custody.
Robbery in Mendoza: off-duty police officer repels theft and wounds one of the offenders
A police auxiliary for the Mendoza Police was the victim of a violent robbery whilst working as a driver for the Maxim transport platform, according to tiempodesanjuan.com. The officer, who was off-duty at the time, managed to repel the assault with his service weapon and wounded one of two attackers.
The incident occurred at approximately 22:10. The victim, 42 years old, who regularly works at the 7th Police Station in Godoy Cruz, was driving his grey Fiat Mobi when he picked up two passengers who had requested the journey through the application.
Upon arriving at a corner, the occupants revealed their true intentions: one drew a firearm, threatened the driver with death and struck him forcefully on the back of the neck with the gun's grip in order to immobilise him. Simultaneously, the second accomplice searched the interior of the vehicle and took a mobile telephone and a rucksack with personal belongings.
Faced with the violence of the attack and fearing for his life, the officer drew his service pistol and fired at least one shot inside the vehicle. The bullet struck one of the robbers in the abdomen, prompting both to hastily exit the car. The wounded suspect collapsed a few metres away on the roadway, whilst his accomplice fled on foot carrying the stolen objects.
The officer himself made an emergency call to 911. Several police vehicles and an ambulance from the Coordinated Emergency Service (SEC) arrived at the scene. The doctors attended to the officer at the scene for injuries to his head caused by the blow he had received.
The wounded suspect, 31 years old, was urgently transferred to the Central Hospital, where he was diagnosed with a firearm wound to the abdominal area with entry and exit wounds. He was admitted under strict police custody. Upon verifying his record in the Security Ministry database, investigators confirmed that the individual has an extensive criminal history between 2014 and 2021, with charges for aggravated robbery with a firearm, robbery in towns and in groups, assault with a weapon, concealment, wilful minor injuries and attempted robbery.
On the roadway, beneath the body of the wounded offender, police personnel found and seized the firearm that had allegedly been used to threaten and strike the driver. By order of the Public Prosecutor's Office No. 1 of Las Heras, the scene was cordoned off for the work of the Scientific Police. Brigades from the Homicides Division and the Departmental Investigation Unit (UID) launched operations in the area in search of the second robber, who remains at large.
Source: Google News PR — San Juan