Arrests Made in Double Homicide Outside Guápiles Nightclub
Two suspects detained following the violent shooting of a couple; further investigations reveal rising homicide rates in Costa Rica.
On March 21, 2025, agents from the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) detained two men, aged 39 and 32, as suspects in the brutal double homicide of a couple outside a nightclub in Guápiles.
The detained individuals, identified by the surnames Alpízar and Vidaurez, were apprehended around 4 a.m. following five search warrants executed across various locations, including Guácimo, Siquirres, and Cuatro Reinas de Tibás.
The OIJ reported that one suspect was captured in Los Geranios, Guácimo, while the other was arrested in Pocora.
During the search of the properties, law enforcement officers uncovered significant evidence related to the ongoing investigation, including firearms and ammunition.
The double homicide occurred in the early hours of March 2, when Jafet Flores Chacón, 27, and Hillary Fabiola Morales Solórzano, 23, were shot outside the Lux nightclub located within the Dos Ríos shopping center.
According to the police, the victims were involved in a dispute that escalated to gunfire, resulting in fatal injuries from gunshots to the chest and back.
In the aftermath of the incident, several videos circulated on social media, capturing moments related to the confrontation involving the victims, although the police have chosen not to disclose certain graphic footage out of respect for the families involved.
The OIJ's efforts also coincide with an overall trend of increasing violent crime in Costa Rica; as of March 21, the agency reported a total of 207 homicides in the country this year.
The majority of these cases are believed to be linked to gang-related activities and personal vendettas.
In a separate incident on the same day, authorities are investigating another homicide involving an unidentified man who was shot multiple times in the barrio Amón area of San José.
This event occurred shortly after 3 a.m. when the victim was approached by two individuals on a motorcycle, leading to a confrontation in which he was fatally injured.
Witnesses aided the victim by transporting him to Hospital Calderón Guardia, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
Investigators reported recovering a substantial number of bullet casings from the scene as they continue their search for the assailants responsible for this violent crime.
Additionally, a notable, unrelated case involves Teodoro Herrera, who has been sentenced to a total of 89 years in prison for the murder and multiple sexual assaults of María Luisa Cedeño in July 2020. This sentence was recently adjusted following a Tribunal of Appeal ruling that found Herrera had committed multiple acts of sexual violence, leading to a reevaluation of the previous penalties imposed.
The detained individuals, identified by the surnames Alpízar and Vidaurez, were apprehended around 4 a.m. following five search warrants executed across various locations, including Guácimo, Siquirres, and Cuatro Reinas de Tibás.
The OIJ reported that one suspect was captured in Los Geranios, Guácimo, while the other was arrested in Pocora.
During the search of the properties, law enforcement officers uncovered significant evidence related to the ongoing investigation, including firearms and ammunition.
The double homicide occurred in the early hours of March 2, when Jafet Flores Chacón, 27, and Hillary Fabiola Morales Solórzano, 23, were shot outside the Lux nightclub located within the Dos Ríos shopping center.
According to the police, the victims were involved in a dispute that escalated to gunfire, resulting in fatal injuries from gunshots to the chest and back.
In the aftermath of the incident, several videos circulated on social media, capturing moments related to the confrontation involving the victims, although the police have chosen not to disclose certain graphic footage out of respect for the families involved.
The OIJ's efforts also coincide with an overall trend of increasing violent crime in Costa Rica; as of March 21, the agency reported a total of 207 homicides in the country this year.
The majority of these cases are believed to be linked to gang-related activities and personal vendettas.
In a separate incident on the same day, authorities are investigating another homicide involving an unidentified man who was shot multiple times in the barrio Amón area of San José.
This event occurred shortly after 3 a.m. when the victim was approached by two individuals on a motorcycle, leading to a confrontation in which he was fatally injured.
Witnesses aided the victim by transporting him to Hospital Calderón Guardia, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
Investigators reported recovering a substantial number of bullet casings from the scene as they continue their search for the assailants responsible for this violent crime.
Additionally, a notable, unrelated case involves Teodoro Herrera, who has been sentenced to a total of 89 years in prison for the murder and multiple sexual assaults of María Luisa Cedeño in July 2020. This sentence was recently adjusted following a Tribunal of Appeal ruling that found Herrera had committed multiple acts of sexual violence, leading to a reevaluation of the previous penalties imposed.
