The Interior Minister, Nicolás Martinelli, recently addressed the situation in the Plácido Lamuri and Marconi neighborhoods, which have experienced a surge in homicides, robberies, and shootings, resulting in injuries and other crimes over the past few weeks. Martinelli acknowledged that there are areas with “certain difficulties” related to insecurity, but he emphasized that these issues are limited to specific blocks rather than the entire neighborhood. He noted that some neighborhoods, such as Marconi, are being closely monitored by the Ministry of Interior.
In the Marconi neighborhood, Martinelli highlighted the presence of an armored truck and patrols from the Montevideo Headquarters and the Republican Guard. He recognized that some areas are more prone to conflict than others and stressed the need for social work to address these issues. The Director of the Police, José Azambuya, also commented on the situation, stating that they are focused on their objectives and are working to prevent, disrupt, and investigate criminal activities. Azambuya acknowledged that recent events have been challenging, but they are continuing to move forward and have adjusted their strategies accordingly.
The murder of a policeman and a shooting incident involving injured minors have been particularly troubling. Martinelli described the police institution as having gone through “painful” and “difficult” moments in the last 72 hours, following the murder of policeman Pablo Dávila. According to the investigation, the criminals were unaware that they were attacking a policeman, and their primary target was the vehicle. Martinelli had intended to attend Dávila’s funeral in Artigas but was unable to do so due to time constraints. He has been in contact with the victim’s family and plans to visit them during the week of the 17th to offer his condolences.
The police investigation into the crime has led to the identification of three individuals who are being sought in connection with the incident. The initial steps in the investigation involved identifying a vehicle used by the suspects, which helped to determine the areas they frequented.