Police find AK-47 gun used in fatal shooting in Girona on Sant Joan Eve
Burned car owned by alleged perpetrator located in Baix Empordà county, while shooter still on the run
Catalan Mossos d'Esquadra police have found the weapon used in the fatal shooting in Girona on Sant Joan's Eve. The AK-47 used in the Font de la Pólvora neighborhood was left by the alleged perpetrator, but authorities do not want to share more information.
The Catalan interior minister, Joan Ignasi Elena, also announced that a group of specialized law enforcement agents had been deployed in the neighborhood, as he said during an interview with Catalunya Ràdio's 'El Matí de Catalunya Ràdio' radio morning show.
Meanwhile, Mossos d'Esquadra police continue their search to find the alleged perpetrator of the double shooting, who is still on the run. Agents located a car burned in Mont-ras, a municipality of the Baix Empordà county, under his name.
Police are also investigating why the car was burned and who did it.
Neighbors in the area said that between five and six men arrived at the parking where the car was located, driving several luxury vehicles, including a car under the alleged perpetrator's name. Once the car was on fire, they all fled the area with three different cars.
The investigation continues after the shooting on Sunday, June 23 night, killed a 48-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman. A 14-year-old child and a girl were also injured.
The assault rifle, an Avtomat Kalashnikova, was located near the area of the shooting. However, Mossos are still looking for a second weapon as they say there were two different guns used during the events.
Released from prison
The main suspect was recently released from prison in the last weeks and has a criminal record with around 15 previous crimes.
Among them, there is one that took place in December last year, as the Diari de Girona newspaper reported, in front of the Platea de Girona nightclub.
The argument left one injured and several broken materials, and it started with three men who had been vetoed to enter the club. The alleged perpetrator of the double shooting threatened to death one of the security agents and crashed a car into the club's entry.
He was detained for such events.
More security
The Mossos d'Esquadra elite team (GEI) has been deployed in the Font de la Pólvora neighborhood to guarantee the security of its inhabitants.
Officials believe the extra security team will be on the site until the funeral of the two victims to avoid any potential disorder. Once the burial takes place, authorities will study the situation and decide on future steps. During the night of the attack, many friends and relatives stormed the Josep Trueta hospital, trying to access the health center. Police deployed anti-riot agents to control the area.
Catalonia's insecurity problems
Joan Ignasi Elena has also said that Catalonia does have insecurity problems as "all societies," but said that the territory "is safe."
He said that the growing number of marihuana plantations and organized crime are the "structural problem," as "out of this production and later selling, there is a higher number of arms deals, and this has consequences," he said in the interview with Catalunya Ràdio.
"We have a problem, and Mossos d'Esquadra is deploying a lot of efforts on this," he said.
One of the other major issues is the several repeat offenses, which look like a "feeling of impunity" in society. He has said that law enforcement agents are doing their duties and called for "more judges and a quicker judicial process," as well as "legislative changes."