Gunfight on NQS avenue: retired police officer foils robbery and wounds assailant wearing Santa Muerte vest
A retired police officer repelled an armed robbery in Bogotá and wounded one of four assailants, who was wearing a ballistic vest with a Santa Muerte figure.
Retired police officer foils armed robbery with gunfire in Barrios Unidos
A retired police officer wounded one of four men who attempted to rob him of US dollars in northern Bogotá on the afternoon of Thursday 3 September, infobae.com reported. The incident triggered a gunfight on NQS avenue with Calle 98, in the La Castellana sector, Barrios Unidos district, during rush hour—minutes before 7:00 p.m.
The victim had withdrawn the money at a currency exchange house in the Unicentro shopping centre, in the Usaquén district, and was travelling by motorcycle towards the city centre when four men, distributed across two motorcycles, intercepted him with firearms to steal a suitcase containing foreign currency.
Exchange of gunfire before drivers and passengers
The robbery resulted in a crossfire in view of other drivers and bus passengers travelling along the thoroughfare. An occupant of a nearby vehicle recounted firsthand the moments of panic that unfolded in the sector.
Ricardo Chaves, chief operational commander of the Bogotá Metropolitan Police (Mebog), confirmed the victim's identity. "These individuals wielded firearms and attempted to rob this person of a large sum of foreign currency he was carrying, who turns out to be a police officer in good standing retirement", the official explained.
Videos circulated on social media recorded part of the events. The images show the moment several men approached the motorcyclist, snatched the suitcase from him and rode away on the motorcycles. Metres further ahead, the former officer stopped his advance, positioned himself on the roadway and opened fire with his own weapon.
One suspect captured with ballistic vest and Santa Muerte figure
One of the alleged assailants was shot in the leg and lay on the pavement; the other three fled the scene. "This individual reacted with his own weapon, managing to injure one of these attackers who were attempting to steal the money", Chaves affirmed, adding that uniformed officers recovered the stolen sum.
The Police activated a lockdown operation in the sector and located the wounded man, who was still moving by motorcycle, and transported him to a healthcare facility. During the procedure, officers seized a 9-millimetre calibre pistol and a ballistic vest. Upon examining the garment, they found a religious figure inside.
"Inside [there was] a figure of what in another culture would be called the Santa Muerte, perhaps as religious protection", the chief operational commander noted.
Background and search for the other three suspects
The authorities reported that the detainee had a criminal record for illegal firearms possession and qualified and aggravated theft. The suspect was placed at the disposal of the competent authorities for criminal proceedings.
The investigation continues to establish the identity of the other three men who participated in the attempted robbery. The Bogotá Metropolitan Police are analysing security camera recordings installed in the La Castellana sector in order to reconstruct the motorcycles' escape route.
Investigators must also determine whether the detainee and his associates have links to other robberies committed against individuals who withdraw money from currency exchange houses, banking institutions or commercial establishments in the northern part of the capital.
Source: Google News CO — Bogotá