Brutal Attack on Brothers Following Pizza Pickup Sparks Outrage
Gerald and Joshua Arce assaulted by alleged Ultra Morada members in Heredia while on an errand for pregnant wife.
On March 30, 2025, Gerald Arce, 23, and his brother Joshua Arce, 20, experienced a violent assault after leaving a local pizzeria in Heredia, Costa Rica.
The brothers had donned their red and yellow Saprissa jerseys to collect pizzas, intending to treat Gerald's pregnant wife, Nicole Torres, as part of a family gathering.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. near their home in San Pablo de Heredia, approximately 400 meters from where they were intercepted.
Reports indicate that the brothers were attacked by suspected members of Ultra Morada, a prominent supporters group associated with the local football club.
Nicole Torres recounted the harrowing experience, stating that upon returning home, her husband displayed severe injuries, including vomiting blood and a broken nose, while Joshua also suffered facial injuries.
"It was horrific for my husband, for my brother-in-law, and for me, because we weren't even at the stadium and are not part of the Heredia supporters group.
Their only 'crime' was wearing the Heredia shirt and going to buy pizzas," Torres said.
As Gerald and Joshua rode their motorcycle home, they were confronted by individuals on another motorcycle.
According to Torres, the assailants issued threats before launching the attack.
Witnesses reported that a blue Hyundai Accent and a bus filled with approximately 15 to 20 individuals from the Ultra Morada group arrived at the scene.
These individuals allegedly included both men and women who attacked the brothers and stole the pizzas.
Beyond the broken noses, Gerald sustained a severe eye injury, and both brothers suffered from multiple lacerations on their backs, reportedly inflicted with cables during the assault.
Torres refuted claims circulating in the community suggesting that the brothers instigated the confrontation, emphasizing that they were simply returning from an errand.
In light of the attack, the Arce brothers reported the incident to the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) in Heredia the same day.
They have expressed a desire for justice, hoping to ensure that the aggression they faced is addressed and does not go unpunished.
The family is awaiting access to surveillance footage that may corroborate their account of the events and provide clarity regarding the circumstances surrounding the assault.
The brothers had donned their red and yellow Saprissa jerseys to collect pizzas, intending to treat Gerald's pregnant wife, Nicole Torres, as part of a family gathering.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. near their home in San Pablo de Heredia, approximately 400 meters from where they were intercepted.
Reports indicate that the brothers were attacked by suspected members of Ultra Morada, a prominent supporters group associated with the local football club.
Nicole Torres recounted the harrowing experience, stating that upon returning home, her husband displayed severe injuries, including vomiting blood and a broken nose, while Joshua also suffered facial injuries.
"It was horrific for my husband, for my brother-in-law, and for me, because we weren't even at the stadium and are not part of the Heredia supporters group.
Their only 'crime' was wearing the Heredia shirt and going to buy pizzas," Torres said.
As Gerald and Joshua rode their motorcycle home, they were confronted by individuals on another motorcycle.
According to Torres, the assailants issued threats before launching the attack.
Witnesses reported that a blue Hyundai Accent and a bus filled with approximately 15 to 20 individuals from the Ultra Morada group arrived at the scene.
These individuals allegedly included both men and women who attacked the brothers and stole the pizzas.
Beyond the broken noses, Gerald sustained a severe eye injury, and both brothers suffered from multiple lacerations on their backs, reportedly inflicted with cables during the assault.
Torres refuted claims circulating in the community suggesting that the brothers instigated the confrontation, emphasizing that they were simply returning from an errand.
In light of the attack, the Arce brothers reported the incident to the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) in Heredia the same day.
They have expressed a desire for justice, hoping to ensure that the aggression they faced is addressed and does not go unpunished.
The family is awaiting access to surveillance footage that may corroborate their account of the events and provide clarity regarding the circumstances surrounding the assault.
