Two teenagers attempted to steal a car from retired police officer Mario López in the Buenos Aires town of El Palomar. One of the young men, armed with a pistol, was shot and killed by the former official after he returned fire. One of the assailants fled, while the other died a few meters away.
The incident occurred at the intersection of Montarce and Estomba streets, when the 45-year-old retired officer was arriving home with his wife. According to official sources, two men on a white motorcycle broke the passenger-side window and threatened them with a firearm.
López, who identified himself as a retired first-class officer of the Buenos Aires police force, fired a shot from his 9mm Bersa pistol. One of the attackers was wounded and died on the spot, while his accomplice managed to escape.
Personnel from the SAME emergency service confirmed the death at the scene, as did officers from the 6th Morón police station and the #7 prosecutor's office, led by Dr. Tomassone. No measures have yet been taken against the former uniformed officer.
With this episode, four young people have now died in similar incidents in the El Palomar area in recent weeks: that of Ariel Muñoz, 16, who was shot by a police officer working as a rideshare driver, and the case of two teenagers killed while attempting to rob a retired police commissioner.