Barcelona shooting: Bon Pastor dispute leaves one or two men injured, suspect hunted
A Saturday afternoon argument in the Bon Pastor neighborhood escalated into gunfire, leaving at least one person wounded and prompting a police search for the attacker who fled the scene.
Incident in Bon Pastor
Around 3:30 pm on Saturday, a dispute between individuals on Carrer de Sas in Barcelona's Bon Pastor neighborhood escalated into gunfire. According to most reports, one man was injured; however, 20 minutos stated that two men were hurt, one seriously but not in danger. The shooter fled the scene on foot, and the Mossos d'Esquadra have launched a search operation.
Victim condition and emergency response
Emergency medical services transported the injured to a hospital, with some sources naming Vall d'Hebron. The seriously injured individual's condition was described as not life-threatening. A second person reportedly sustained minor injuries and also received treatment.
Recent wave of shootings
The incident is the second shooting in Barcelona in four days. On the eve of the Sant Joan festival, another shooting took place in the Born district; no one was hurt, but police arrested two people suspected of involvement in drug-related revenge attacks. That victim had been shot in the leg and sought treatment at Bellvitge hospital.
Broader violence and political response
Saturday's shooting adds to a troubling pattern: more than 30 firearms incidents in Catalonia so far this year, according to the Catalan Interior Department. Six homicides, all linked to organized crime, have been recorded between January and June. The latest occurred on June 10 near a National Police station on Calle Balmes, coinciding with the Pope's visit; the victim was a Serbian national wanted in Belgium for cocaine trafficking. Authorities link most shootings to drug trafficking disputes, particularly between Balkan clans vying for control since 2014. In response, the department is proposing legislative changes to increase penalties for illegal firearm possession and large-scale marijuana cultivation.
Investigation underway
The Catalan police's Criminal Investigation Division is handling the case. Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a personal conflict, but they are also considering possible links to the drug trade. A manhunt is ongoing for the suspect, who remains at large.
