Fifth and sixth members of gang that robbed and killed child aged 12 arrested in San Bernardo
Police detained two more men, aged 23 and 18, for the crime spree in San Bernardo that resulted in the death of a child who was dragged by a stolen vehicle.
Fifth and sixth members of gang that robbed and killed child aged 12 arrested in San Bernardo
In the early hours of Tuesday 23 June, a criminal gang unleashed a series of robberies in the commune of San Bernardo that culminated in the death of Alejandro Águila Jorquera, a 12-year-old boy who was dragged by a stolen vehicle. During the night of Wednesday, authorities arrested the fifth participant, a 23-year-old man, and in the early hours of Thursday detained a sixth suspect, 18 years of age, according to reports from La Cuarta.
The operation that enabled the capture of the fifth person involved was carried out thanks to joint work between Carabineros and the Western Metropolitan Public Prosecutor's Office, who executed search and entry warrants. The 23-year-old was placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor's Office.
The 18-year-old, for his part, turned himself in voluntarily at a police station. According to statements by captain Javiera García, both newly detained individuals confessed their role within the criminal group. With these arrests, the uniformed institution considers that it has identified all those responsible for the incident.
The officer explained that each member of the organisation carried out different tasks, not only in the execution of robberies, but also providing logistical support. Furthermore, she noted that the criminals rotated functions according to what each situation required.
Previously, four people had already been brought under judicial control: two adults, aged 21 and 18, and two adolescents aged 17. The adults remain in preventive custody, whilst the minors were placed in provisional detention. All of them face charges of robbery with homicide, robbery with violence and robbery with intimidation, offences that will also be brought against the two most recently arrested.
The chain of crimes began at a service station on Eyzaguirre Avenue, where the criminals robbed an employee and a customer of their belongings, seizing the latter's vehicle. With that vehicle they continued committing robberies in the area. In one of the attacks, a passer-by who turned out to be a police officer off duty suffered a fracture.
Later, on the slip road of Route 5 South, near Catemito, the gang approached a car that had come to a stop. Inside were a father, his 12-year-old son and a relative of the child. The family was returning from Argentina, the father's native country, who had crossed the Andes to celebrate Father's Day with his children. After entering Chile via Osorno, they were heading towards Santiago.
The driver stopped to exchange seats with the boy's aunt, as he had become disoriented on the way to his home in Puente Alto. It was then that the robbers surprised them, threatening them with sharp weapons. The boy got out of the vehicle without realising he still had his seatbelt fastened. The thief who took control of the car accelerated without stopping, dragging the child for three kilometres. Despite the shouts of the father and aunt, the driver did not stop, causing the child's death.
With the surrender of the last person involved, authorities consider the arrest phase of those responsible for this crime, which has shocked public opinion, concluded.
Source: Google News CL — Crime