The General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI) opened an investigation into the death of a robber by a police officer. The news of this procedure, common when a security force agent fatally hits someone, was reported by the newspaper Morning mail and confirmed by PÚBLICO.
“A process was opened to investigate the circumstances in which a firearm was used, resulting in death”, explained the IGAI. The case is also being investigated by the Public Ministry and the PSP itself has opened an internal disciplinary process.
It all happened in the early hours of April 1st in the Charquinho neighborhood, in the Benfica area of Lisbon. What the police officer said — who in recent years has served in the personal security body, one of the exclusive competencies of the PSP throughout the country to guarantee the personal security of members of sovereign bodies and high-ranking national or foreign entities visiting Portugal —, he was in his vehicle, stopped at traffic lights in the Algés area, when he was approached by an armed man. It was about 3:30 am. As he was not on duty, he was not in uniform. The assailant entered his vehicle and forced him to enter another vehicle driven by an accomplice and go to an ATM and then to his residence, “on Rua da Atriz Maria Matos, in Benfica.
Once inside the house, the police officer, who is around 50 years old, as described in a PSP statement, “may have managed to reach his service weapon, having used it, neutralizing the suspect, who ended up losing his life at the scene” . The man was fatally struck by the projectile fired from the firearm in the chest area.
The woman, who was waiting in the car at the door of the building where it all happened, was detained at the scene by PSP agents and questioned by the Judiciary Police. After being brought to court in her first judicial interrogation, the woman, for having participated in the robbery and kidnapping of the PSP agent, ended up in preventive detention.
