18-year-old goalkeeper shot dead in Toledo Chico to steal his motorcycle
Santiago Prestes was shot at the boundary between Montevideo and Canelones as he was returning home on his motorcycle. The Huracán Siré club and the Pando League suspended activities in his memory.
Murder in Toledo Chico: 18-year-old goalkeeper killed to steal motorcycle
Santiago Prestes, 18, was shot dead on Tuesday evening at the intersection of Don Pedro de Mendoza and Camino Ramón Trabal streets in Toledo Chico, on the border between the departments of Montevideo and Canelones. According to infobae.com, the young man had gone out on his motorcycle to run an errand around 20:30 when he was intercepted by at least two criminals.
A security camera recorded the sequence: the two alleged attackers were waiting at a corner, turned down a path located metres further ahead and confronted Prestes when the victim passed riding at reduced speed, according to reporting by Telemundo on Canal 12. A security guard present at the scene told police that he heard the young man shout "Stop!" before two shots rang out. One of the bullets struck him in the armpit and caused his death.
When police arrived at the scene, they initially believed it was a traffic accident because Prestes was lying on the ground with severe wounds. People at the scene performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but a doctor confirmed his death shortly afterwards. The motorcycle was found set on fire in Punta del Manga, another neighbourhood on the periphery of Montevideo.
A relative of Prestes was among those present at the scene and told police that the young man had gone out to run an errand. The last time they spoke, Prestes told them he was in Las Piedras, a town in the department of Canelones located about seven kilometres from the crime scene. Concerned by his silence and delay, the relative went out to look for him and found the homicide scene.
The murder caused distress among family members, friends and teammates from Huracán Siré futsal club, where Prestes worked as a goalkeeper in the Under 20 and First Division categories. On Wednesday midday, the institution published a statement on Instagram: "With deep sorrow and sadness, the Huracán Siré Athletic Institution regrets to announce the death of our beloved player Santiago Prestes, who defended our colours as goalkeeper of the Under 20 and First Division categories."
"Today we must say goodbye to one of our own, to a teammate who was part of our family and who will always have a place in the history and in the heart of our institution," the club's statement added, which extended its condolences to family members, friends and loved ones, and thanked Prestes for "defending the colours" and being "always present in the heart of the neighbourhood."
The Pando Futsal Football account also issued a statement: "There is no consolation in these moments. They took the life of 18-year-old Santiago Prestes, goalkeeper for the Under 20 and Senior sides of Huracán Siré. The crime that plagues this country is unbearable and sometimes it hits close to home. Pain, helplessness and many other things that at this moment serve no purpose to express."
The Pando Futsal Football League resolved to suspend the match date scheduled for this weekend as a sign of mourning.
Source: Google News UY — Crime