Retired Police Officer and Son Shot in Public on Lima's Cercado District
A former PNP officer and his son were injured after being ambushed by gunfire on Zorritos Avenue. The attackers fled in a grey vehicle.
Shooting on Zorritos Avenue Leaves Two Wounded, One a Retired Police Officer
A retired police officer and his son suffered serious injuries after being intercepted by two armed criminals while travelling in their pickup truck on block 11 of Zorritos Avenue in Lima's Cercado district. According to willax.pe, the attack occurred in public on a busy street in broad daylight.
Security camera footage and witness testimony reconstruct the sequence of the attack: two individuals travelling in a grey-coloured vehicle intercepted the victims' pickup truck and descended from their vehicle with a clear objective. One of the attackers, dressed entirely in black, approached the vehicle and opened fire at point-blank range against the occupants.
A witness at the scene described the opening moments of the gunfight: "He says they came from over there, they shot at them, a driver", recounting the manoeuvre by which the gunmen surrounded the pickup truck to prevent any escape.
Over 20 Shell Casings on the Pavement
The magnitude of the attack was recorded during preliminary investigations. Forensic specialists from the National Police found over 20 spent shell casings on the pavement, whilst four projectiles directly impacted the passenger door of the pickup truck. Residents and shop owners in the area had to throw themselves to the ground or take shelter in their premises to avoid being struck by bullets.
The panic triggered by the shooting persists among those who work daily on that busy thoroughfare in the capital. A shopkeeper interviewed at the scene described the uncertainty of the opening moments: "When I passed by, they only told me to be careful, that there had been a shooting. But what I heard was that there was one wounded person and another man who was dead. That's what I heard, nothing more…"
The same vendor added that, according to accounts gathered at the scene, the victims may have been followed in advance: "It seems like they had been following him, that's what they told me". Regarding the security situation on Zorritos Avenue, she was direct: "Yes, sir, honestly it does frighten us. It frightens me. We work here, look, the young man also sells over there on the corner, another vendor too, and honestly, we are frightened."
Flight and Ongoing Investigations
After carrying out the attack, the assailants fled in the same grey vehicle with an unknown destination. The retired police officer and his son were rushed to a nearby medical centre to receive specialist care for their bullet wounds.
Officers in charge of the case are analysing video surveillance footage from cameras installed in the area and gathering testimony from witnesses at the crime scene. Authorities are not ruling out that the attack may be the result of extortion or a targeted surveillance operation directed specifically against the former PNP officer.
Source: Google News PE — Lima