A conflict over differences in a marriage between two gypsy families ended on Saturday in a shooting on the avenue of Marquès de Mont-Roig in Badalona. Four people were injured, two by gunfire, one by a knife, and one by a beating.
The neighbourhood of Sant Roc in Badalona experienced another episode of gun violence on Saturday, July 18. The shots began in the afternoon on the avenue of Marquès de Mont-Roig, and chaos erupted for a few moments in this area, where knives and fists were also brandished. The poorer residents did not understand what was happening. They only heard the gunfire and, looking out of their windows, saw badly injured victims on the ground, surrounded by pools of blood. In total, there were four injured, and one of them collapsed next to the tram stop, under the C-31.
The origin of the conflict: a gypsy wedding
Sources familiar with the case have detailed that the violent fight — because that is what it was — was triggered by a gypsy wedding. The conflict arose from differences in a marriage between members of two families: one residing in the neighbourhood of La Catalana in Sant Adrià de Besòs, and the other, a neighbour of Sant Roc. It was the Adrià family that came to Badalona on Saturday to smooth over differences, but it turned out to be a bad idea. "They were received with gunfire," the same sources reported. Also with knives and blows. The brawl resulted in four victims: two from gunshot wounds, another from a knife, and the last, from a beating that included a severe head injury.
Investigation open with no arrests
The Mossos d'Esquadra are keeping the investigation open, although, for the moment, they have not arrested any of those involved. The injured were taken to hospital Esperit Sant de Santa Coloma, where they were treated. There are no fears for the life of any of them. The forensic police collected evidence at the scene and are trying to identify the authors of the shots and the assaults. Advances in the investigation are expected in the coming days, although the families involved usually maintain a code of silence.
Previous protest over insecurity
The events took place just a few days after a mass protest against insecurity in Sant Roc. Those who took to the road and blocked both directions of traffic on the C-31 were, for the most part, gypsy residents. They denounced coexistence problems with the small group of migrants evicted from the B9 in December. Men who are struggling to survive in this area of Badalona and who, last Wednesday, used one of their dogs — mistreated and in terrible conditions — to attack some children from the neighbourhood. The positive aspect of the incident is that the Guardia Urbana confiscated the animal, which is now at the Centre d’Atenció d’Animals de Companyia del Barcelonès Nord (CAACBN), following the dissemination of the images. However, the shooting on Saturday has once again highlighted the latent tension in the neighbourhood, where coexistence between different groups is becoming increasingly fragile. The residents of Sant Roc are hoping for a strong response from the authorities to prevent violence from becoming chronic.
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