A Life Cut Short: The Incident
On a Monday night, David Elías Ojeda Vázquez, affectionately known as “Tito”, was returning home from the gym when his life was tragically interrupted. According to reports, the 23-year-old was intercepted at the intersection of Polonia and Piñero streets in José C. Paz, a district located in the Greater Buenos Aires area.
The attackers, two individuals on a motorcycle dressed as delivery app workers—a common sight in Argentine cities—allegedly shot the young man in the back as he attempted to flee. The criminals escaped with his motorcycle, and David was rushed to the Hospital Mercante, where he unfortunately passed away. The case has been officially classified as “homicidio criminis causa” (homicide committed to facilitate or conceal another crime) by the UFI N°18 of the San Martín Judicial Department. As of now, the suspects remain at large.
Community Outcry
The pain of the loss turned into a call for action on Wednesday, September 9. Family members, friends, and neighbors marched through the center of José C. Paz, gathering at Ruta 197 and Gaspar Campos and in front of the City Hall. The protesters are demanding justice for 'Tito' and pointing out critical failures in the local security infrastructure, alleging that many security cameras are non-functional and police vehicles are in poor condition.
Political Tension
Interim Mayor Lorena Espina and Security Director Miguel Narváez have taken a firm stance, issuing an official statement calling upon Governor Axel Kicillof to assume full responsibility for security in the province. This clash reflects a deeper divide within the Peronist party (Argentina's main political movement), specifically between the local leadership aligned with Senator Mario Ishii and the provincial administration of Kicillof.
Local Security Efforts
The municipality highlighted that they are already investing significant local resources to combat crime, including:
| Resource | Detail |
|---|---|
| Personnel | More than 250 dedicated officers |
| Vehicles | 70 Urban Patrol units |
| Technology | Active Monitoring System (COM) |
| Maintenance | Funding for fuel and repairs of Provincial Police cars |
Source: TN (Todo Noticias)