Man killed during attempted robbery at beverage distributor in La Matanza

A 47-year-old man was killed Thursday night in La Matanza, a district in Buenos Aires province, Argentina, after intervening in an armed robbery. The incident occurred at a beverage distribution center located at Pedro Gallo al 3400.

Three armed assailants arrived in a car and attempted to rob the establishment. The victim, who was reportedly trying to defend the store owner, was shot at close range by the assailants. He sustained two gunshot wounds and died at the scene. A neighbor described the victim as having become a father just two months prior.

The police are investigating the crime scene for evidence and are analyzing security camera footage to track the perpetrators' movements. The Fiat Siena used by the assailants, which had been reported stolen, was later found abandoned in the Madariaga area.

This shooting is the second homicide recorded in La Matanza in less than 24 hours. The previous day, a ride-share driver was killed in Virrey del Pino, another area within La Matanza, by individuals on a motorcycle who attempted to steal his vehicle. The driver, identified as Claudio Killing, 52, was shot while waiting for a passenger.

La Matanza has a high incidence of violent crime. In 2025, the district recorded 147 intentional homicides, with 22 classified as crimes during robberies. This rate significantly exceeds the provincial average. With a population of over 1.8 million, La Matanza accounts for nearly 20 percent of the 123 homicides investigated as robbery-related crimes in the province of Buenos Aires during 2025.