Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: CEN

Video Credit: CEN/@elcomodorense

Vigilantes have reportedly beaten to death the father of a man who was suspected of sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy and burning his house down but the suspect has now been released and the victim said he was innocent.

The incident took place in the city of Comodoro Rivadavia in the southern Argentine province of Chubut when the young victim claimed that he was sexually abused outside his school.

Angry residents came together and descended on the suspect’s home. Reports said that they set it on fire and beat the man’s father Jose Oviedo, 50, to death.

Pictures Credit: CEN & CEN/@elcomodorense

The unnamed suspect, 21, was arrested by the police, as seen in the video footage, but later freed by the authorities due to lack of evidence, according to prosecutor Martin Carcamo.

Meanwhile, the 12-year-old victim reportedly told cops that the suspect “was not the person who attacked me”.

The boy said that he was raped outside his school after finishing for the day.

As well as investigating the child’s claim, police are also looking into the death of Oviedo who was reportedly beaten to death by over 50 angry residents after he tried to defend himself with a machete and a metal pole.

Four people have been arrested in connection with the attack, including one woman and a 17-year-old male.

The three adults have been identified as Silvina Vera, Jonathan Ezequiel Barrera and Enzo Facundo Cerda.

The investigation is ongoing.