In a violent incident in Puerto Rico, five people lost their lives in a drive-by shooting, prompting a significant response from local authorities.
The shooting, which occurred in the eastern coastal town of Ceiba, has raised concerns over public safety and law enforcement challenges in the U.S. territory.
According to police reports, three of the victims were discovered deceased inside a pickup truck, while a fourth was found lying on the pavement nearby. A fifth victim succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. The police found weapons inside the vehicle, which was riddled with bullet holes.
Police Commissioner Antonio López, speaking to WKAQ radio, confirmed that one of the victims was a 16-year-old boy. He revealed that the victims had just departed from a cock-fighting event in the neighboring town of Naguabo. The investigation is focusing on a possible connection to drug trafficking as the motive behind the attack, although the exact reasons for the shooting late on Monday remain unclear.
The incident led to the closure of a section of a highway as authorities conducted their investigation. This shooting adds to the rising tally of violence on the island, with at least 28 people reported killed this year in Puerto Rico, an island with a population of 3.2 million, according to the Associated Press. This figure is nearly on par with the 30 homicides recorded in the same period last year, reflecting an ongoing concern about violent crime in the region.
Advertisements
