Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

This 27-year-old policeman has been shot dead from 230 feet away and a nationwide manhunt has been launched for this 19-year-old suspect who is on the run.

The murder took place in the neighbourhood of Peni Trapun in the city of Cutral Co in the province of Neuquen in western Argentina.

According to local media, policeman Luis Gabriel Nahuelcar, 27, was part of a police operation deployed by local authorities after several incidents in the neighbourhood.

Reports said Nahuelcar was shot from a distance of 70 metres (230 feet) with a gun and the bullet perforated his helmet and stopped in his neck.

The cop was transferred to a nearby hospital and then to a second medical centre where doctors confirmed he had suffered irreversible damage to his brain.

The victim reportedly died that very afternoon.

Reports claim local police are looking for 19-year-old Jose Luis Espinoza who lives in the neighbourhood and is believed to be the person who shot the cop.

Local authorities have already arrested five people and they have reportedly found the gun which was used to shot the cop.

Prosecutor Maris Czajka has authorised police to search eight houses in the neighbourhood while a national arrest warrant for Espinoza has been issued.

The investigation is still ongoing.

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