Paraguay minister admits police negligence in fatal checkpoint incident

Paraguay's Interior Minister Enrique Riera has admitted to police negligence in the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man in Alberdi, who died after failing to stop at a police checkpoint. Riera stated that while not halting at a police barrier constitutes a minor infraction, it is not a criminal offense.

“

This constitutes a case of criminal negligence. They could have shot the tire, they could have intercepted and avoided this irreversible damage

"This constitutes a case of criminal negligence. They could have shot the tire, they could have intercepted and avoided this irreversible damage," Riera said, emphasizing that the prosecutor's office will determine criminal responsibility. He acknowledged that the officers' reaction did not adhere to the protocol for proportional use of force, adding that the involved team was either unprepared or made a fatal error.

“

It is a minor infraction. I would tell you that it is not a crime.

The minister stressed that the officers involved will face consequences, both legally and through internal police proceedings. However, he urged against generalizing the incident to the entire police force, asking the public not to stigmatize all officers. "Not 100% react the way we would like," he noted, referring to the officers involved as having "paid the consequences."

“

Not 100% react the way we would like. [...] That team, evidently, was not prepared or made a fatal error and will pay the consequences.

Riera also addressed the public's distrust of checkpoints, explaining that they were installed due to the ongoing search for alleged assailants in the area. He assured that the ministry would fully cooperate with the investigation and rejected any possibility of a cover-up, promising that the officers "made a mistake and will pay the consequences."

“

The matter is serious, they made a mistake and will pay the consequences.