Police officer shot whilst attempting to prevent robbery in Punta de Rieles
A uniformed officer aged 26 was wounded in the leg when he sought to help a woman who was being robbed in the Punta de Rieles neighbourhood. It constitutes the third attack against officers in the capital in recent days.
Police officer shot whilst attempting to prevent robbery in Punta de Rieles
On Thursday morning, a 26-year-old member of the security force sustained gunshot injuries whilst attempting to help a female citizen who was in the midst of a robbery in the Punta de Rieles neighbourhood, according to spokespersons from the Montevideo Police Command who confirmed the incident to El Observador.
The episode took place at the intersection of Sagitario and Zodiaco streets. The officer, already in uniform, was heading to his workplace when he observed a woman being subjected to an attempted robbery. Acting immediately, he ordered the perpetrator to cease his actions.
The robber, upon noticing the presence of the uniformed officer, fled on foot. This led to a chase behind him that culminated in a struggle between the two. During the fight, the offender managed to take the officer's service pistol and fired two shots that struck one of his legs.
Despite his injuries, the police officer managed to regain possession of his weapon, at which point the attacker took the opportunity to flee. Colleagues of the officer arrived at the scene and took him to a nearby hospital, where he received treatment and it was confirmed that his condition was not serious.
The incident is part of an escalation of violence against members of the public force in Montevideo. At least three similar situations have been recorded in recent days.
The first precedent occurred on Monday in the morning hours in Nuevo Ellauri. An employee of the National Rehabilitation Institute who was heading to work was approached by two criminals who were travelling on a motorcycle. Without saying a word, they shot at him several times. His protective vest stopped two of the three projectiles; the third struck his left shoulder. The robbers also took his service weapon.
That same night, another member of the force was intercepted by two armed individuals on Agustín Sosa and Comercio streets in La Unión, as he was about to enter his home. Threatened, he handed over his documents, cash and mobile phone. The perpetrators escaped in a car which they later abandoned and set fire to in Malvín Norte. Fortunately, this officer sustained no injuries.
Source: El Observador
Source: Google News UY — Montevideo