Armed Assault at Playa Bonita, Limón Results in Multiple Injuries
Seven individuals wounded in a mid-day shootout involving rival gangs and police intervention.
On Sunday, March 16, chaos erupted at Playa Bonita in Limón shortly after noon when armed assailants, reportedly linked to the criminal organization known as 'La H' or 'Los Hondureños,' opened fire on suspected members of a rival gang.
The attack commenced from a vacant location where at least four men arrived and began shooting with AK-47 and AR-15 assault rifles, targeting a group of motorcyclists believed to belong to another gang known as 'La T,' led by Tonny Alexander Peña Russel, who is currently in preventive detention facing allegations of orchestrating a series of murders.
The shooting resulted in seven injuries, including five civilians, one officer from the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), and a border police officer.
The latter, identified as Minor Martínez, remains in critical condition at the Tony Facio Hospital.
Accounts indicate that a vehicle carrying the gunmen traveled from a central neighborhood in Limón to Playa Bonita via Route 240, where the attack was executed around 1:15 p.m. Witnesses reported the sudden onset of fear and confusion among families and diners at the beach as the gunfire erupted.
Simultaneously, two OIJ agents who were conducting a vehicle theft investigation near Playa Portete, approximately 500 meters away, responded to the emergency.
As the agents approached the beach, they encountered a Kia sedan from which occupants opened fire with an AK-47 and two AR-15 rifles.
In response, the OIJ officers quickly halted their vehicle, took cover, and returned fire.
Shortly after the initial exchange, a vehicle from the Border Police, returning from APM Terminals in Moín, arrived and joined in the confrontation.
Facing overwhelming resistance, the attackers abandoned their vehicle and fled the scene.
Among the injured were OIJ Officer Ortega, who sustained a gunshot wound to the jaw, and Officer Martínez, who was shot in the chest, necessitating emergency medical attention.
Officer Ortega has since been discharged from the hospital.
The suspects sought refuge in the nearby Cariari Park at Portete, leveraging the dense area for concealment.
Minutes later, one of the suspects, identified as Zúñiga Chavarría, was apprehended by law enforcement.
A second suspect, José María Aragón Obando, was captured the following day after also hiding in the wooded area.
Both will face one year of preventive detention as investigations progress.
Reports indicate that Aragón Obando is affiliated with a Nicaraguan criminal organization known as Los Tarzanes, which has allegedly teamed up with Los Hondureños to conduct the attack.
This gang has been involved in drug trafficking, particularly in supporting Colombian cartels, and has historical ties to the now-defunct Norte del Valle cartel of Colombia.
The OIJ confirmed that, although seven individuals have been identified as injured, more may have been at risk during the incident.
Consequently, the Public Prosecutor's Office has charged the detained suspects with ten counts of attempted murder.
In light of the ongoing investigation and dire condition of Officer Martínez, a call for blood donations has been circulated through various platforms, urging the public to assist in his recovery efforts.
The attack commenced from a vacant location where at least four men arrived and began shooting with AK-47 and AR-15 assault rifles, targeting a group of motorcyclists believed to belong to another gang known as 'La T,' led by Tonny Alexander Peña Russel, who is currently in preventive detention facing allegations of orchestrating a series of murders.
The shooting resulted in seven injuries, including five civilians, one officer from the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), and a border police officer.
The latter, identified as Minor Martínez, remains in critical condition at the Tony Facio Hospital.
Accounts indicate that a vehicle carrying the gunmen traveled from a central neighborhood in Limón to Playa Bonita via Route 240, where the attack was executed around 1:15 p.m. Witnesses reported the sudden onset of fear and confusion among families and diners at the beach as the gunfire erupted.
Simultaneously, two OIJ agents who were conducting a vehicle theft investigation near Playa Portete, approximately 500 meters away, responded to the emergency.
As the agents approached the beach, they encountered a Kia sedan from which occupants opened fire with an AK-47 and two AR-15 rifles.
In response, the OIJ officers quickly halted their vehicle, took cover, and returned fire.
Shortly after the initial exchange, a vehicle from the Border Police, returning from APM Terminals in Moín, arrived and joined in the confrontation.
Facing overwhelming resistance, the attackers abandoned their vehicle and fled the scene.
Among the injured were OIJ Officer Ortega, who sustained a gunshot wound to the jaw, and Officer Martínez, who was shot in the chest, necessitating emergency medical attention.
Officer Ortega has since been discharged from the hospital.
The suspects sought refuge in the nearby Cariari Park at Portete, leveraging the dense area for concealment.
Minutes later, one of the suspects, identified as Zúñiga Chavarría, was apprehended by law enforcement.
A second suspect, José María Aragón Obando, was captured the following day after also hiding in the wooded area.
Both will face one year of preventive detention as investigations progress.
Reports indicate that Aragón Obando is affiliated with a Nicaraguan criminal organization known as Los Tarzanes, which has allegedly teamed up with Los Hondureños to conduct the attack.
This gang has been involved in drug trafficking, particularly in supporting Colombian cartels, and has historical ties to the now-defunct Norte del Valle cartel of Colombia.
The OIJ confirmed that, although seven individuals have been identified as injured, more may have been at risk during the incident.
Consequently, the Public Prosecutor's Office has charged the detained suspects with ten counts of attempted murder.
In light of the ongoing investigation and dire condition of Officer Martínez, a call for blood donations has been circulated through various platforms, urging the public to assist in his recovery efforts.
