Triple Homicide Investigated in Quepos, Costa Rica Amid Rising Violence
Authorities probe a triple shooting connected to ongoing crime wave as national homicide rate surpasses 400 this year.
In the early hours of June 14, 2025, authorities responded to a triple homicide in El Cocal, Quepos, located on Costa Rica's Central Pacific coast.
The initial alert was received at 2:25 a.m., leading to the discovery of three adult males dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
The victims have been identified as a 20-year-old male with the last name Vargas, a 56-year-old male identified as Mena, and a third unidentified male estimated to be between 20 and 30 years old.
The first incident occurred at a residence where Vargas was shot multiple times, sustaining injuries to his back and face.
Shortly after, the assailants moved to a second residence approximately 500 meters away, where Mena and the third victim were also shot.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) suggest the involvement of four assailants who approached the properties on foot.
Authorities believe that the two incidents are interconnected, likely perpetrated by the same individuals.
No arrests have been made as the suspects fled the scene following the killings.
The OIJ is working to determine the motives behind the attacks and to locate those responsible.
Adding to the concern surrounding public safety, Costa Rica has now surpassed 400 homicides in the first half of 2025, a figure that mirrors the same period in the previous year.
Notably, law enforcement officials project that if current trends continue, the country may end the year with upwards of 900 homicides.
This alarming statistic indicates a rising wave of violence, particularly associated with firearms, which accounted for a significant portion of the deaths.
In related developments, a separate incident occurred in Cieneguita, Limón, on the evening of June 13, resulting in the deaths of two men after a shooting.
The victims were found at the scene, and a third individual sustained critical injuries.
Law enforcement has noted patterns of heightened violence, particularly in the latter half of the year, and attributes much of the criminal activity to gang-related violence and disputes over territory.
Despite efforts by local authorities, the ongoing increase in homicide rates poses challenges to maintaining public safety, with the majority of victims in recent incidents being male.
According to the OIJ, the average homicide rate is 2.4 cases per day, underscoring the urgent need for effective law enforcement strategies to address the escalating violence across the nation.
The initial alert was received at 2:25 a.m., leading to the discovery of three adult males dead from multiple gunshot wounds.
The victims have been identified as a 20-year-old male with the last name Vargas, a 56-year-old male identified as Mena, and a third unidentified male estimated to be between 20 and 30 years old.
The first incident occurred at a residence where Vargas was shot multiple times, sustaining injuries to his back and face.
Shortly after, the assailants moved to a second residence approximately 500 meters away, where Mena and the third victim were also shot.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) suggest the involvement of four assailants who approached the properties on foot.
Authorities believe that the two incidents are interconnected, likely perpetrated by the same individuals.
No arrests have been made as the suspects fled the scene following the killings.
The OIJ is working to determine the motives behind the attacks and to locate those responsible.
Adding to the concern surrounding public safety, Costa Rica has now surpassed 400 homicides in the first half of 2025, a figure that mirrors the same period in the previous year.
Notably, law enforcement officials project that if current trends continue, the country may end the year with upwards of 900 homicides.
This alarming statistic indicates a rising wave of violence, particularly associated with firearms, which accounted for a significant portion of the deaths.
In related developments, a separate incident occurred in Cieneguita, Limón, on the evening of June 13, resulting in the deaths of two men after a shooting.
The victims were found at the scene, and a third individual sustained critical injuries.
Law enforcement has noted patterns of heightened violence, particularly in the latter half of the year, and attributes much of the criminal activity to gang-related violence and disputes over territory.
Despite efforts by local authorities, the ongoing increase in homicide rates poses challenges to maintaining public safety, with the majority of victims in recent incidents being male.
According to the OIJ, the average homicide rate is 2.4 cases per day, underscoring the urgent need for effective law enforcement strategies to address the escalating violence across the nation.