A 19-year-old man has been arrested by the Southern Directorate of the Judiciary Police (PJ) on suspicion of attempting to shoot dead a 16-year-old boy back in February, in Olhão. The victim was shot in the neck, and in one eye. Investigators believe longstanding debts, disputes, and previous threats may have motivated the attack.
The incident took place in the early hours of 21st February. Two rival groups of youths became involved in violent clashes near Olhão Marina, which later spread to an open area close to Escola José Carlos Maia. It was there that one of the teenagers was shot.
The victim was initially taken by private car to Faro Hospital. Owing to the severity of his injuries, he was later airlifted to a hospital in Lisbon for specialised treatment.
The investigation was handed over to the Judiciary Police, taking over a month to trace the suspect. The unidentified man was arrested on Wednesday, 25th March, in Olhão.
According to the PJ, the suspect is “strongly indicted for attempted homicide and firearms-related offences”, allegedly committed “in the context of a group confrontation involving young people, linked to debts, ongoing conflicts, and prior threats”.
House searches were carried out at the suspect’s residence, during which investigators located and seized what police described as the instruments used in the crime, including firearms.
The detainee is due to appear before a judge for an initial hearing, where coercive measures will be determined.
National newspaper Jornal de Notícias revealed in their reporting of the incident that the suspect was already known to authorities for involvement in several previous offences. The PJ investigation will now continue in order to establish the full extent of the alleged criminal activity.
Source: PJ / JN
