Prosecutors Seek Maximum Penalty in Maracaná 'Massacre' Trial

Prosecutors have brought charges against three men accused of orchestrating a "true massacre" in Montevideo's Maracaná neighborhood, where a May 30, 2024, attack left four people dead and one injured. The prosecution's theory posits that multiple individuals, including the three defendants, fired over 150 shots at a home occupied by five victims. Four victims, aged 40, 18, 16, and 11, died in the incident, while a 17-year-old boy survived.

The prosecution is seeking the maximum penalty of 30 years in prison plus 15 years of security measures for the accused. Authorities have identified at least five individuals involved in the homicide. Two accomplices, known by the nicknames "Moski" and "Bebito," were previously convicted of criminal association for their roles in planning aspects of the crime and accepted responsibility through plea agreements. The current trial focuses on three other young men accused of being the direct perpetrators: José Ezequiel González (alias "Z"), Anderson Vidal (alias "Ander"), and a third unidentified man. The Ministry of the Interior had previously released the identities of González and Vidal due to their fugitive status for over a year.

According to the indictment obtained by El País, investigators have outlined three potential motives for the attack. The first suggests the victims operated a drug-selling operation from their home and were in conflict with the group responsible for the shooting, who are also from the area. The accused allegedly worked for a figure known as "Gordo Nico," whose base of operations was located near the crime scene. Gordo Nico himself is not charged in this quadruple homicide but is imprisoned for drug trafficking offenses. One witness indicated that two of the deceased had attempted to kill Gordo Nico due to his aggressive behavior towards them, even mistaking his car for a neighbor's and assaulting the wrong vehicle.

A second possible motive involves one of the accused being pursued by police and seeking refuge in the victims' home. The survivor reportedly denied entry, leading to a heated argument. A third witness claimed that days before the murders, "Z" engaged in a fistfight with members of the victims' group. The prosecution alleges that on the night of the attack, a group including the three defendants approached the residence and, using at least 10 firearms, fired approximately 150 powerful shots into the home, knowing the victims were inside.

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It was a true massacre