Firearm used in Susy Aponte killing linked to five further crimes in Peru
The National Police revealed that the alleged Venezuelan hitman followed a route from Lima to Caraz. The murder weapon is believed to have been used in five other cases.
Pistol used in murder of Áncash candidate allegedly used in five other crimes
Canaln.pe reports that the National Police revealed new details of the investigation into the murder of Susy Aponte Polo, a candidate for the Áncash Regional Government, whose death occurred in Caraz. The general commander of the institution, Fredy López, held a press conference in which he presented the route of the main suspect and the ballistic findings linked to the case.
Route of alleged hitman from Lima to Caraz
According to López, the main suspect, a Venezuelan national, departed from Lima, made a stop in Chimbote and arrived in Huaraz on 12 September. From there he travelled to Huaylas province, where Caraz is located and where the attack took place.
The Police maintain that the suspect stayed at a hotel upon arriving in Huaraz and purchased a mobile phone. Payment for the device is believed to have been made through a transaction carried out from the phone of another Venezuelan citizen, who was later detained in Lima. This connection between the two suspects is considered by investigators as a key element of the case.
Analysis of the phones and transactions carried out through applications forms part of the ongoing investigations to determine the degree of participation of each suspect.
Chase and eight shots
Following the murder of Aponte Polo, one of her security agents pursued the alleged attacker, which resulted in an armed confrontation. The suspect was wounded during his escape and was eventually apprehended and detained. Ballistic testing established that eight shots were fired during the attack.
The firearm and its history in five cases
The most relevant finding of the investigation is the history of the firearm used in the crime. Ballistic testing determined that the same pistol is believed to have been used in five previous criminal incidents recorded in the country.
Among the cases cited at the conference were an investigation into aggravated robbery in 2025, a case involving injuries recorded in 2026 and the murder of a Venezuelan citizen that occurred in May of this year. Authorities continue their investigations to establish how the firearm came into the hands of the suspects and whether there is a connection between these incidents.
Preliminary detention of 15 days
The Judiciary ordered 15 days of preliminary detention against the two Venezuelan citizens under investigation for the murder. During this period, the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Police will continue gathering evidence, analysing communications and records, and carrying out other investigations.
The authorities are also seeking to determine who else may have participated in the planning and execution of the attack against the Áncash regional candidate.
Source: Google News PE — Lima