Abel Bejarano shot dead with eight bullets in Guayaramerín; Felcc investigates contract killing
A 36-year-old man was shot dead at his home in the Villa 8 de Diciembre neighbourhood. The Felcc points to a settling of accounts with two identified suspects.
Eight bullet impacts at border home point to contract killing
Two attackers followed Abel Bejarano Zeballos, 36, to his residence in the border municipality of Guayaramerín, in Beni department, and shot him dead in the early hours of Monday, 2 November, around 02:10. According to El Deber, the forensic examination determined that the victim received eight bullet impacts to the head and thorax.
The crime occurred in the Villa 8 de Diciembre neighbourhood, between Juana Azurduy de Padilla and Lucio Pérez streets. The cause of death was established as traumatic brain injury from firearm projectile. After firing, the two attackers fled the scene.
Felcc qualifies the incident as possible contract killing
The departmental director of the Special Force to Combat Crime (Felcc) in Beni, colonel Jorge Yáñez, stated that the background of the case points the investigation towards an act of contract killing. "Taking into account the type of incident, the violence with which this person has been victimised, the type of weapon they used and the surveillance that was carried out on the victim, it is considered and established that this is focused on contract killing", explained Yáñez.
During the processing of the scene, investigators collected six spent cartridge cases and one 9-millimetre projectile. These elements will serve to establish the characteristics of the weapon used and reconstruct the sequence of the attack.
The Felcc also analysed images captured by surveillance cameras installed in the vicinity of the crime scene. The analysis of this material seeks to reconstruct the movements of the suspects before and after the incident.
Two suspects identified, settling of accounts as main hypothesis
Yáñez indicated that, based on the evidence collected, the police preliminarily established the involvement of two persons in the murder. The alleged perpetrators have already been identified, although proceedings to carry out their arrests are ongoing.
Regarding the motive, the police chief maintained that the strongest hypothesis points to a settling of accounts, although he clarified that this line must still be corroborated. "According to the line of investigation and the hypotheses, based on the evidence collected and obtained, it is established that it allegedly could be a settling of accounts", he stated.
The investigation will not be limited solely to the material executors. Yáñez emphasised that the inquiries also point to identifying those who may have ordered or financed the crime. "It must be established not only the material authors of this act, but also the intellectual authors", he specified.
Operations activated due to proximity to Brazil
The border condition of Guayaramerín represents an additional factor of concern for the investigators, given the possibility that those responsible might attempt to leave Bolivian territory by crossing into Brazil.
The police command of the municipality, Felcc personnel and Intelligence units are executing coordinated operations to locate the suspects. The actions have the support of the Public Ministry to carry out the raids that correspond.
The police are maintaining active operations whilst continuing to process the evidence collected, with the aim of clarifying the motive for the murder and determining whether there are other persons involved in the crime.
Source: El Deber