Three Trinitarios arrested for brutal machete attack on young man in Latina

The victim, who was with a group of friends, had no connection with gangs of violent young people. Yet she was chosen at random by the attackers simply because she was in what they considered “rival territory,” in an incursion known in gang slang as “the drop.” These are premeditated incursions into rival territory to carry out an action of group aggression, which constitutes an end in itself, without the need for any other motivation or prior trigger. Actions of this type are aimed, sometimes, at controlling territory and claiming dominance over rival groups, and others in response to similar acts suffered, often without a clear and defined objective, as is the case.

According to the police investigation, the attackers were looking for members of the DDP when they came across the group of young people. After separating one of them, they questioned him about his alleged membership in the said gang and forced him to make offensive gestures towards this rival gang, in addition to demanding his cell phone to review his social networks to verify their content. Although the young man denied any links to violent groups, the attackers immediately began a brutal attack with knives they carried hidden in their clothes. The young man was stabbed five times and suffered very serious injuries to his abdomen, side and back, which put his life in danger.

After a month of investigation, the Provincial Information Brigade deployed an operation on December 16 which resulted in the arrest of three men, an adult and two minors, as presumed responsible for the crimes of attempted homicide, violent theft and membership in a criminal organization.

Once brought to justice, two of the detainees were placed in a juvenile center, while the third was released with precautionary measures.