15-year-old Colombian boy shot dead in Barcelona's La Pegaso park, gang clash suspected

The shooting

Witnesses heard gunshots around 10:45 pm on Thursday in La Pegaso park, in Barcelona's La Sagrera neighbourhood, and called emergency services. When Guardia Urbana officers arrived, they found a 15-year-old boy with gunshot wounds. They performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation for nearly half an hour, but medical services confirmed his death at the scene.

Victim and suspects

The victim was a Colombian national who had arrived in Spain seven months ago, according to sources cited by La Vanguardia. He was accompanied by two other people when a group of four to five youths attacked, La Razón reported. The attackers fled immediately after the shooting. Police are still searching for them.

Investigation

The Mossos d'Esquadra's Criminal Investigation Division (DIC) has taken over the case, which is now under judicial secrecy. The first hypothesis points to a clash between youth gangs, possibly Latin gangs that frequent the park. Interior Minister Núria Parlon said the initial indications suggest a gang fight.

I express my round condemnation of the extreme violence these events represent. The Mossos are working to find the perpetrators.

Official reactions

Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni told Rac1 radio that the Mossos plan to hold a press conference on Friday morning to provide details. Deputy mayor for Security Albert Batlle contacted Parlon early Friday. The park, located near a Guardia Urbana station, is known as a gathering point for youth gangs.

Rising gun violence

This is the seventh firearm death in Catalonia so far this year, five of them in Barcelona. Four of those were executions, presumably linked to drug trafficking, El País noted. The killing of a minor has intensified concern over gang activity in the city.