Police officer fires at 22-year-old in Caracas Metro station
A National Bolivarian Police officer shot and wounded Nairelis González at the Colinas de Bello Monte station. The incident was captured on security camera footage.
Police officer fires at young person inside Caracas Metro
A security camera recorded the moment when a National Bolivarian Police (PNB) officer shot and wounded a 22-year-old young person at the Colinas de Bello Monte station of the Caracas Metro, in Baruta municipality. According to tvazteca.com, the video went viral rapidly on social networks and sparked a wave of outrage.
The images show the victim, identified as Nairelis del Mar González Ávalo, conversing next to officer Siomary Clemencia Fernández Castillo. Both were leaning against a railing of the station in an attitude of trust and familiarity. After a couple of minutes, the officer unholstered her service weapon and began manipulating it in front of the young person.
The video records how the officer stares intently at her companion and, in a moment when Nairelis is distracted, fires the weapon pointing towards the lower part of the young person's body. The victim reacts immediately with a visible gesture of pain, placing her hands on her abdomen. Officer Siomary, for her part, shows surprise at the shot and signals with signs that she should not move.
After securing the weapon, the police officer ran to seek help from another colleague who was sitting reviewing her mobile telephone. Seconds later, Nairelis approached walking slowly to show the severity of the wound. At that moment, both uniformed officers showed signs of anguish before offering her a place to sit.
Fire department and Civil Protection personnel arrived at the scene to provide emergency medical attention. Nairelis del Mar González was urgently transferred to Dr. Domingo Luciani hospital to receive specialised treatment. To date, health authorities have not released information about her current medical condition.
Venezuelan authorities opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the incident and define the legal situation of the officer involved. On social networks, several users questioned whether the manner in which the officer waited before firing the weapon corresponded to an accident, which intensified the debate about training of police personnel in firearm handling.
Source: Google News VE — Caracas