Federal Police agent killed in Rosario drug operation

A Federal Police agent was shot and killed in Rosario, Argentina, during an apparent confrontation with a drug gang in the Villa Banana neighborhood. Agent Rodolfo Manfredi, 30, died after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

The incident occurred when Manfredi and another agent entered a narrow passageway in Villa Banana, a densely populated marginal neighborhood in western Rosario, reportedly to identify individuals. Both agents were reportedly unarmed and not wearing bulletproof vests. The other agent was wounded in the arm and abdomen and is hospitalized.

A man was also injured in the chest during the exchange of gunfire and is receiving treatment at the Emergency Hospital. His brother was arrested, and a black Volkswagen Voyage was seized. The killing of Manfredi has raised concerns among national and provincial government officials, prompting the Secretary of National Security, Martín Ferlauto, to travel to Rosario for meetings.

Following the shooting, Villa Banana was cordenaed off by federal and provincial forces to secure the crime scene for forensic analysis. The area was reportedly agitated following the confrontation.

Separately, on the same night, a 24-year-old man was shot and killed by assailants on a motorcycle in another part of the city's west side. His mother-in-law was injured in the leg during the attack. Police sources identified the victim as Alexis Juan Pablo Yniguez, who reportedly had an active arrest warrant since May 2022 for robbery and a previous shooting incident.