La Serena: Carabineros Shoot Armed Man with Axe
- A 36-year-old Colombian national was shot by police in La Serena, Chile, on Monday after allegedly threatening civilians with an ax.
- On Monday, november 27, 2023, a police operation was launched in La Serena, Chile, at the intersection of Juan Soldado Street and Balmaceda Avenue.
- According to reporting from Diario El Día,police attempted to subdue the 36-year-old Colombian national,but he resisted.
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Police Shoot Man with Ax in La Serena, Chile
Table of Contents
A 36-year-old Colombian national was shot by police in La Serena, Chile, on Monday after allegedly threatening civilians with an ax. The man is currently hospitalized and in stable condition.
Incident Overview
On Monday, november 27, 2023, a police operation was launched in La Serena, Chile, at the intersection of Juan Soldado Street and Balmaceda Avenue. The operation involved personnel from the Carabineros (Chilean national police force) and municipal citizen security teams responding to reports of a man threatening passersby and residents with an ax.
According to reporting from Diario El Día,police attempted to subdue the 36-year-old Colombian national,but he resisted. Officers were then forced to use their service weapons,initially shooting the man in the leg and later in the abdomen.
The injured man was transported to the San Juan de Dios Hospital in La Serena, where he underwent surgery and is currently reported to be in stable condition. The extent of his injuries has not been publicly detailed beyond being described as ”of consideration.”
Official Statements
Gonzalo Arceu, Director of Citizen Security for the Municipality of La Serena, stated that the municipal emergency number received a call from a neighbor reporting the situation. He indicated that municipal personnel attended the scene and then deferred to the Carabineros to handle the situation, resulting in the outcome already known, preventing further threats to citizens diario El Día.
As of November 28, 2023, the Carabineros have not released an official statement beyond confirming the incident and the hospitalization of the individual. Further details regarding the circumstances leading to the shooting are expected as the investigation progresses.
Context and Background
La Serena, a coastal city in northern Chile, generally experiences relatively low levels of violent crime compared to the capital, Santiago. However, incidents involving weapons, even non-firearm weapons like axes, are taken seriously by law enforcement. The presence of a foreign national involved in the incident may also prompt scrutiny of immigration status and potential mental health concerns.
Chile’s legal framework regarding the use of force by police officers allows for the use of lethal force when an officer reasonably believes their life or the lives of others are in imminent danger. The investigation will likely focus on whether the officers’ actions met this standard.
Timeline of Events
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday Afternoon, November 27, 2023 | Reports of a man threatening civilians with an ax at the intersection of Juan Soldado Street
|