Christmas Violence Claims Multiple Lives
A series of violent incidents occurred in Montevideo and the interior of the country, resulting in eight homicides between December 25 and 26. The victims included a teenager, two young men, a woman, and four men.
Incidents in Montevideo
Six of the crimes took place in the capital city, specifically in the Plácido Ellauri, Cerro Norte, Prado, Peñarol, Borro, and Cotravi neighborhoods. One of the incidents involved a 14-year-old boy who was shot multiple times in the Plácido Ellauri area. The alleged perpetrator, who has six prior criminal records, is currently detained and testifying before a prosecutor.
In another incident, a man was shot dead in Cerro Norte, while a 41-year-old man was wounded by a gunshot in the same area. Police are investigating whether the two cases are linked.
A 19-year-old young man was murdered with a knife in the Rosedal del Prado, and a 34-year-old man was found dead inside an abandoned house in the Peñarol neighborhood.
Incidents in the Interior
Two homicides occurred in the interior of the country, one in Soriano and the other in Rivera. In Soriano, a 47-year-old woman was found dead with several cuts on her neck, and her ex-partner is currently detained. The incident is being investigated as a possible femicide.
In Rivera, a 20-year-old Brazilian man was attacked by gunfire from a car and shot at least six times.
Early Morning Incidents on December 26
Two additional homicides occurred in the early morning and morning hours of December 26. A 30-year-old man was murdered by several shots in the Borro neighborhood, and a 44-year-old man was shot in the Cotravi neighborhood. A woman who was with the latter victim was wounded by a gunshot and is being treated at a hospital.
These incidents add to the four violent episodes that occurred on December 23, including one homicide in Cerro Norte, one in Casabó, another in El Pinar, and an 87-year-old woman who died as a result of an attempted robbery in MalvÃn Norte.