Investigation Underway After Armed Attack on Lo Espejo Residence
Police are currently investigating a violent armed attack targeting a residence in the commune of Lo Espejo. The incident occurred while a Carabineros officer was present at the home with his family, leading to a wider investigation into the motives behind the assault.
According to security cameras located in the Gabriela Mistral street sector, at least two unidentified individuals on a motorcycle, armed with a firearm, carried out the attack. Preliminary reports indicate that a vehicle parked outside the property sustained at least five ballistic impacts. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Sequence of Events and Evidence
Patricio Martínez, a prosecutor from the Fiscalía Regional Metropolitana Sur, detailed that the attack took place after 15:00 hours. The Carabineros officer was having lunch with family members when he heard a series of shots, which the prosecutor noted were “apparently from an automatic weapon.”
Martínez explained that upon feeling impacts against the wall of the home, the officer dove to the ground to protect his own physical integrity and that of another person accompanying him. Following the attack, the officer discovered at least 25 shell casings on the ground.
The damage extended beyond the primary residence. The prosecutor indicated that the gunfire affected the home where the officer was located as well as a contiguous property. The house across the street sustained three or four impacts, and the house to the left also showed ballistic damage. Labocar has since arrived at the scene to conduct investigative procedures.
Investigation into Motives
The investigation is being led by the Fiscalía Sur. A key point of the inquiry is whether the officer was the intended target. When questioned, Prosecutor Martínez stated that there is currently no hypothesis on this matter, as it remains unknown if the officer was the “primary target of the shots.”
The prosecutor further noted that the officer has reported no prior threats, harassment, or other circumstances that could explain the origin of the gunfire. It was revealed that the officer does not reside at the attacked address; he was visiting the home and maintains his residence in a different commune. The officer is currently stationed at the Tenencia Lo Sierra, located a short distance from the site of the attack.
Next Steps
The crime scene remains closed as authorities process the evidence. A possible next step in the investigation involves analyzing the available security camera footage to identify the suspects and determine their whereabouts. The Fiscalía Sur may continue to evaluate the ballistic evidence collected by Labocar to further understand the nature of the attack.
