Dominican Republic reports rise in September gunfights
In less than 24 hours, the National Police reported that eight alleged criminals were killed by their agents in alleged exchanges of gunfire in different locations across the country.
The deaths come after the death of Zenaida Castillo, wife of merengue singer Julián Oro Duro, a case that shocked society and for which four people are under arrest.
However, according to Manuel María Mercedes, representative of the Human Rights Commission in the Dominican Republic, the figures are higher: so far in September, 31 people have fallen into the same circumstances.
The human rights defender also said that so far this year there have been 200 deaths due to apparent exchanges of gunfire with police officers.
“This figure already far exceeds those projected for 2025,” he said. He then called on the president to take action and ensure that “police killings” cease.
Similarly, he argued that police action should be, as happened in the Julián Oro Duro case, such that the killers were apprehended alive.
The most recent
Police said the seven alleged dangerous criminals were linked to multiple crimes.
There are arrest warrants and multiple complaints against each of the deceased.
The institution’s spokesperson, Diego Pesqueira, in response to questions from media representatives, explained that the cases were registered in Los Alcarrizos, Cabral (Barahona), Gaspar Hernández, Santo Domingo East, and Santo Domingo West.
Among the deceased are Gabriel Luis Montero (a) Campeón, Domingo Santiago Valdez (a) La Fama, and José Daniel De La Cruz Valdez (a) Hernán and/or Nay, in Los Alcarrizos; Carlos Julio Feliz Sena, in Cabral, Barahona province; Ricardo Polanco García (a) Richard Gatillo, in Gaspar Hernández; Genny Santos Franco Jimenez (a) El Come Hombre de Los Frailes, in Santo Domingo Este, and the Haitian national José Manuel San Luis (a) Negrón, in Las Caobas, Santo Domingo Oeste.
All of the aforementioned individuals were involved in multiple criminal acts, including drug trafficking, homicides, and as alleged members of criminal structures, such as the case of the man nicknamed ” Man Eater of Los Frailes,” who was actively sought through complaints and arrest warrants.
Pesqueira reported that the institution is verifying the details of each case and that official reports will be issued in due course.
Also, another alleged known criminal, Hansel “Boca Negra,” was killed in Samaná, supposedly while confronting police officers who were trying to arrest him, because he was actively wanted for having arrest warrants against him.
“Boca Negra” was identified as the alleged perpetrator of the shooting deaths of Major Andrés Pascual and Corporal William Antonio Jesús Heredia, both members of the DICRIM (Criminal Investigations Department), in separate incidents. The fugitive, who was found in possession of a Glock pistol, was hiding in a building located in the Honduras sector of Samaná.
