Story By: Juan Fenandez Mayes, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
This woman has been shot in the face and killed during the coronavirus lockdown and her ex-husband has been arrested as a prime suspect.
The shocking incident occurred on Friday 17th April in the city of Florencio Varela in the province of Buenos Aires in eastern Argentina.
Local media report Nancy Paola Pereyra, 36, had recently moved into her friend’s house along with her three children and her current partner, however, it is unclear why she moved there.
Her ex-husband Ernest Gonzalez, 48, reportedly went to the house with “the excuse of taking food for her children” however an argument ensued between the two at the door.
Gonzalez allegedly took out a weapon and shot the victim in her face. The fatal blow went across her right cheek and ear.
Pereyra’s current partner reportedly fought Gonzalez who managed to escape and fled the scene. Local resident then neighbours tried to apprehend and lynch him on the street, according to reports.
Police patrolling the area were alerted by the commotion and were able to stop the neighbours from killing the man after chasing him for a reported ten blocks.
Gonzalez is being held in the second precinct of Florencio Varela and is accused of aggravated homicide with use of a weapon and gender violence.
Gonzalez was allegedly able to ditch the gun while neighbours chased him and the murder weapon has not been found.
Some reports claim he used a shotgun, however, authorities said according to the wounds Pereyra suffered, they expect it was a much smaller weapon.
Prosecutor Hernan Bustos Rivas is leading the investigation and is conducting interviews via video conferences due to the COVID-19 lockdown instilled in the country.
Pereyra’s body was taken to the Forensic Medical Body but the results of an autopsy have not been published. The investigation is ongoing.
No motive has been provided for the crime.
According to Argentine newspaper ‘Clarin’, Pereyra’s death marks the 24th case of femicide in the country since they entered lockdown 29 days ago.
According to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University, Argentina has reported 2,941 cases of COVID-19 and 134 deaths from the virus.
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