Traffic police officer charged with shooting daughter in Santa Lucía: 150 days' preventive detention
A 50-year-old officer was charged with attempted femicide after shooting his 21-year-old daughter in Santa Lucía, Canelones. The court ordered 150 days' preventive detention.
Traffic police officer shot his 21-year-old daughter in Santa Lucía: charged with attempted femicide
Uruguayan courts have charged a 50-year-old traffic police officer who shot his 21-year-old daughter and injured his 15-year-old son during a domestic violence incident in Santa Lucía, Canelones department. According to elobservador.com.uy, the man must serve 150 days' preventive detention whilst the investigation proceeds.
The formalisation comprised the offences of specially aggravated homicide with femicide as an attempted crime, specially aggravated domestic violence and personal injury. Charges were also brought for private violence and damage linked to incidents reported in 2024.
The trigger: the ex-partner's refusal
Prosecutor Irena Penza explained at a press conference that the incident was triggered when the man tried to rekindle his relationship with his ex-partner and she refused. The argument escalated into a physical confrontation in which the couple's two children attempted to intervene to protect their mother.
"What we have as primary evidence is that in a context of domestic violence, where what the accused wanted was to rekindle his romantic relationship with his ex-partner, and when she refused, the accused took this refusal badly, and in this way a family argument arose that resulted in such a tragic outcome in a struggle where the children tried to defend their mother, and for that reason the accused's daughter ended up being shot with a firearm," Penza declared, according to Telemundo (Channel 12).
The 21-year-old received impacts from her father's service weapon and remains hospitalised due to her injuries. Her 15-year-old brother suffered a scalp wound.
The investigation at an early stage
Penza cautioned that the investigation is at a "very early" phase. So far, neither the shot young woman nor her mother—the accused's ex-partner—have been able to give statements to the prosecution.
The prosecutor also pointed to the existence of previous incidents involving the officer dating from 2024. She clarified that these were not domestic violence complaints, but stated that they "demonstrate a context of violence". These incidents, which occurred in the neighbourhood where the family lived, were incorporated into the formalisation under the offences of private violence and damage.
The prosecution was also unable to confirm whether the officer was on active duty or was on medical leave at the time of the incident.
Police response
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at a residence located on Continuación Pecoche and Complejo Esperanza, in Santa Lucía. Police received an emergency services alert to 911 regarding firearm discharge and deployed officers from the 2nd Station and the High Operational Dedication Programme (PADO).
Upon arriving at the residence, police found the officer's two children with injuries. The young woman had gunshot wounds; her younger brother had a scalp wound.
Precautionary measures
Following the formalisation hearing, the court ordered 150 days' preventive detention for the accused and prohibited all contact with the victims.
The investigation will continue with the gathering of evidence and statements from the victims who have not yet been questioned.
Source: Google News UY — Crime