Police Officer Killed in Playa Bonita Shooting; Community in Mourning
Minor Martínez, a dedicated member of the Costa Rican Border Police, dies after a violent gunfight in Limón's Playa Bonita.
On March 22, 2025, Costa Rica's Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) confirmed the death of Minor Martínez Molina, a 12-year veteran police officer, who succumbed to injuries from a shooting incident that occurred in Playa Bonita, Limón, on March 16. Following the attack, Martínez was hospitalized at Tony Facio Hospital, where he died in the early hours of Saturday.
Martínez's family faced significant tragedy, having celebrated his 36th birthday just two days prior, a date he could not enjoy due to his hospitalization.
The Minister of Public Security, Mario Zamora, expressed condolences, noting that Martínez had been committed to safeguarding the local population.
The shooting at Playa Bonita erupted just before 2 p.m., involving assailants armed with high-caliber firearms, including an AK-47 and two AR-15s.
The police responded to the violence, resulting in injuries to another OIJ officer, who has since recovered.
Authorities have detained two individuals, identified by the surnames Zúñiga Chavarría and Aragón Obando, who are currently held under preventive detention as investigations continue into the attacks.
This incident marked the second police fatality in the line of duty for the year, following the death of officer Osvaldo Sánchez Masís in February during a police pursuit.
In a display of solidarity, the Costa Rican police community expressed their sorrow through social media, honoring Martínez's unwavering commitment to public safety and declaring that his sacrifice would leave an indelible mark on his colleagues and the nation.
The funeral arrangements for Officer Martínez are pending, with plans to repatriate his remains to Upala, his hometown.
Public broadcasting has notified that Martínez was involved in a special operation, known as Operation Soberanía, aimed at curtailing drug trafficking and organized crime in the region.
In addition to this tragedy, the neighborhood of Santa Bárbara in Heredia is grappling with another emergency.
A significant fire was reported at 4:58 p.m. on March 22, affecting a 300-square-meter warehouse near a popular seafood restaurant.
Five firefighting units were deployed, successfully controlling the fire without any reported injuries.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of recent fires in Costa Rica, including a previous substantial blaze in León XIII, Tibás, which resulted in the destruction of ten homes, affecting 17 individuals.
Fire investigators are currently working to establish the cause of these events.
As the local community mourns the loss of Officer Martínez and deals with the aftermath of fire-related incidents, the authorities continue to address public safety and fire hazards through coordinated efforts.
Martínez's family faced significant tragedy, having celebrated his 36th birthday just two days prior, a date he could not enjoy due to his hospitalization.
The Minister of Public Security, Mario Zamora, expressed condolences, noting that Martínez had been committed to safeguarding the local population.
The shooting at Playa Bonita erupted just before 2 p.m., involving assailants armed with high-caliber firearms, including an AK-47 and two AR-15s.
The police responded to the violence, resulting in injuries to another OIJ officer, who has since recovered.
Authorities have detained two individuals, identified by the surnames Zúñiga Chavarría and Aragón Obando, who are currently held under preventive detention as investigations continue into the attacks.
This incident marked the second police fatality in the line of duty for the year, following the death of officer Osvaldo Sánchez Masís in February during a police pursuit.
In a display of solidarity, the Costa Rican police community expressed their sorrow through social media, honoring Martínez's unwavering commitment to public safety and declaring that his sacrifice would leave an indelible mark on his colleagues and the nation.
The funeral arrangements for Officer Martínez are pending, with plans to repatriate his remains to Upala, his hometown.
Public broadcasting has notified that Martínez was involved in a special operation, known as Operation Soberanía, aimed at curtailing drug trafficking and organized crime in the region.
In addition to this tragedy, the neighborhood of Santa Bárbara in Heredia is grappling with another emergency.
A significant fire was reported at 4:58 p.m. on March 22, affecting a 300-square-meter warehouse near a popular seafood restaurant.
Five firefighting units were deployed, successfully controlling the fire without any reported injuries.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of recent fires in Costa Rica, including a previous substantial blaze in León XIII, Tibás, which resulted in the destruction of ten homes, affecting 17 individuals.
Fire investigators are currently working to establish the cause of these events.
As the local community mourns the loss of Officer Martínez and deals with the aftermath of fire-related incidents, the authorities continue to address public safety and fire hazards through coordinated efforts.
