Holiday resort gunman ‘killed dad and mom in automobile then shot mum and child in backseat’
A 25-year-old man has been detained in Spain after allegedly shooting his parents dead in their car before then firing shots at his baby son and mother of his child in the backseat
A gunman went on a rampage in Spain
Shocking details of a holiday resort shooting have been revealed after a 25-year-old man was arrested for allegedly killing his parents and wounding four others, including his own baby son, during a late-night rampage in southern Spain.
According to initial reports, the suspect allegedly opened fire indiscriminately on several members of his own family shortly after 11pm near the town of Balanegra. Emergency services received multiple calls reporting gunshots, prompting a major response involving the National Police and the Civil Guard.
When paramedics arrived, they discovered what authorities described as a massacre scene. Six people had been shot, including two very young children.
Two victims, believed to be the alleged gunman’s mum and stepfather, died at the scene from gunshot wounds. The mayor of El Ejido, Francisco Góngora, recounted how the horror unfolded after a call alerted emergency services.
When local police officers and Civil Guard personnel reached the area, they found a bullet-riddled vehicle containing two dead occupants – one identified as the suspect’s mum and the other his stepfather, reports Ideal.
Authorities said the alleged shooter’s partner and their seven-month-old son were also inside the car at the time of the attack. The woman escaped physically unharmed, but the baby suffered serious injuries.
Moments later, a neighbour reportedly emerged from her home carrying a baby believed to be around 20 months old. She was allegedly shot three times in the chest and abdomen, while her daughter also sustained chest injuries.
Investigators say the suspect then fled the scene. During his escape, he allegedly encountered a man, described as around 60 years old and of Moroccan origin, and shot him in the head. The victim remains in critical condition.
Emergency crews coordinated the transfer of the wounded to nearby hospitals. The two injured children, including the suspect’s seven-month-old son, were initially taken to Poniente Hospital before being transferred to the Almería Maternity Hospital. One of the babies remains in the paediatric intensive care unit.
The two injured adults were also hospitalised, with one remaining in critical condition in the ICU at a hospital in Almería. Initial reports suggest one of the victims may have been a local resident of North African origin who tried to intervene and stop the shooting.
A large-scale manhunt was immediately launched by the Civil Guard and El Ejido Local Police, with drones deployed in the search operation. At around 4am, officers located the suspect after he reportedly returned to the El Canalillo area. Police ordered him to drop his weapon before subduing and arresting him.
Mayor Francisco Góngora said Civil Guard sources indicated the alleged perpetrator “apparently suffers from schizophrenia” and has “an extensive police record for drug trafficking and illegal possession of weapons.”
The suspect has since been admitted to a medical centre and is awaiting evaluation by a mental health unit. Authorities are also investigating the origin of the firearm allegedly used in the shooting, as the suspect reportedly did not possess a gun license.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
