Death of teenage boxer in Santa Cruz: investigation elevated to homicide and inquiries expanded
The Public Prosecutor's Office reclassified the case of the death of Ángel Jadiel, a 15-year-old boxer who died after six months in intensive care from injuries sustained in a bout, as homicide. Four people are facing charges and additional witnesses will be called.
Death of teenage boxer in Santa Cruz: investigation elevated to homicide and inquiries expanded
A 15-year-old adolescent who practised boxing died after spending nearly half a year in intensive care due to blows received during a fight at a gymnasium in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Now, Bolivian justice is treating the case as a homicide and has expanded investigations against several people linked to the incident.
Ángel Jadiel lost his life last Saturday, following a cardiorespiratory arrest the previous Sunday near 7:30. Since the end of January, the minor had been hospitalised in intensive care after collapsing in the ring during a bout with an opponent aged 25, considerably older than him.
The bout had been scheduled for 31 January, when the young man's trainer sent him to fight at that Santa Cruz gymnasium. During the encounter, the adolescent suffered multiple impacts to the head which caused him to lose consciousness and subsequently led to serious health complications.
Following confirmation of death, the Public Prosecutor's Office Specialising in Crimes Against Life, headed by Rose María Barrientos, modified the legal classification of the case. What was initially investigated as serious injury is now classified as homicide. Additionally, a new criminal case was opened, other prosecutors were assigned, and judge Primo Flores took charge of the precautionary stage.
To date, four individuals are being prosecuted. Among them are the adult boxer against whom the minor competed, the gymnasium owner, the trainer, and a fourth person from his circle. The adult boxer remains detained in Palmasola prison with preventive detention, whilst the other defendants are facing proceedings on bail with alternative measures.
Expert witnesses from the Institute of Forensic Investigation carried out an autopsy and determined that death resulted from trauma caused by heavy blows, principally to the head, combined with other medical complications.
The authorities have already issued summonses to call additional people to testify. Among those summoned are gymnasium employees, friends of the deceased, and family members, with the aim of clarifying all details of the incident.
The teenager's father, Jasmani Núñez, recounted that during the months of hospitalisation he observed small signs of recovery in his son. "He opened his eyes, moved a little, but there was progress," he commented. He explained that he received a call informing him that the young man had suffered a cardiac arrest and that, despite attempts at resuscitation, they were unable to save his life.
Family members, friends and neighbours gathered in the Los Lotes area to bid farewell to the minor's remains at his grandmother's home.
Information from El Deber
Source: El Deber