Tragedy in Almeria: El Ejido shooting leaves two dead and four injured

The town of El Ejido, located in Almeria, has declared a day of official mourning following a deadly shooting that took place on Monday, May 18, in which a young man allegedly killed his mother and stepfather, and injured four other people, including one child and his own seven-month-old son. According to officials, the injured remain in critical condition, in the Intensive Care Units of different hospitals in the area.

El Ejido tragedy leaves two dead and several injured: How it happened

The incident took place in the El Canalillo neighbourhood of El Ejido, near Balanegra, with the first reports of the incident coming in at around 11:00pm. The shooter, a 25-year-old man, had fled after shooting his parents, who were in a vehicle on Calle Mar Adriático. One of the bullets struck the head of the seven-month-old baby, who was also riding in the car with his mother.

The gunshots caught the attention of a 19-year-old neighbour, who was exiting her house with her young daughter. Both of them were also shot; the young woman received three gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen. The little girl, reported to be under two years old, also suffered gunshot wounds to the chest.

During his escape, the alleged perpetrator also shot another man, aged 60, in the head as he passed by. This victim is reportedly an immigrant from Morocco.

Suspect turned himself in

The Guardia Civil had begun a search operation using a drone equipped with a thermal camera, but the shooter returned to the scene of the crime and turned himself in only hours later. He was apprehended, ordered to drop his weapon, and arrested by the Guardia Civil on Tuesday, May 19, at around 4:00am, according to sources close to the investigation. Medical teams were also dispatched to the scene to care for the victims.

An extensive criminal record: More than a dozen arrests for possession of drugs and weapons

The young man is reportedly a known figure with an extensive criminal record; the mayor of El Ejido, Francisco Góngora, stated that the young man has “no fewer than 16 arrests or offenses for drug possession and also for possession of a bladed weapon.” According to neighbours, the alleged perpetrator and his family had arrived two years prior from Madrid, and since then, have been causing trouble in the neighbourhood. Reportedly, other people have been forced to leave the area due to serious past incidents.

Investigation of the incident is ongoing. Initial findings link the incident to domestic violence. Officials are also looking into the murder weapon, a 9mm pistol, as the alleged perpetrator lacked a licence to possess or use it.

El Ejido declares a day of mourning and a minute of silence; mayor demands action

Mayor Góngora has declared a day of mourning in light of the tragic incident, as well as a minute of silence taking place on Wednesday, May 20 at 12:00pm.

The mayor also demanded “more security measures” in the area and expressed deep condolences at the “tremendously tragic” crime. Three months prior, a raid had taken place in the area, following suspicions of drug trafficking and other crimes taking place in the area.

The alleged perpetrator has been admitted to a medical facility for an evaluation of his mental health. The mayor demanded that once he is diagnosed, “he should not be released but placed in a centre where he does not represent any danger to the rest of the neighbours.”

“We hope and pray that both the babies and the two injured people, the immigrant and the 19-year-old, can recover,” said Mayor Góngora.