A 34-year-old man with 19 criminal records was arrested this Thursday in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat following a police shooting. He was travelling with his ex-partner, against whom there was a restraining order.
The Mossos d'Esquadra were forced to shoot at a vehicle on the busy Torrent Gornal avenue in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat to stop a man who was attempting to flee. The suspect, aged 34, had accumulated 19 criminal records and was travelling with his ex-partner, despite having a valid restraining order.
The events occurred around 4:00 PM on Thursday when a patrol recognised the suspect in public. When they attempted to identify him, the driver accelerated sharply and, according to the police, tried to run over two officers.
A chase that ended with shots to the bonnet and a tyre
The escape lasted only a few metres. The car collided with a parked motorcycle before the officers shot at the bonnet and a tyre to immobilise it. The vehicle came to a stop on Torrent Gornal avenue, at the boundary between the Florida and Torrassa neighbourhoods.
The arrested man, who was not injured, was apprehended without further incidents. His ex-partner, who was in the passenger seat, emerged unscathed. The Mossos confirmed that the restraining order against the man was in effect, which adds an alleged breach of sentencing to the charges.
The area where the shooting occurred is known by locals as a hotspot for insecurity. In recent months, the northern neighbourhoods of L'Hospitalet have been the scene of several violent episodes and have received police reinforcements, such as the six critical points operation activated by the City Council last summer.
A criminal profile that worries residents
The 19 records of the arrested man include traffic safety offences, thefts, and gender-based violence, according to sources from the investigation. The rapid intervention of the Mossos prevented the escape from escalating, but the incident has once again highlighted security concerns in the area.
Residents' association of Florida have expressed their concern over the recurrence of violent incidents in the neighbourhood.
“We are fed up with the same thing happening all the time. The police do what they can, but more presence is needed,” said a community spokesperson.
The arrested man will be brought before a judge in the coming hours. He is charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer, breach of sentencing, and reckless driving. The ex-partner, who has been attended to by social services, has reported the events to the court for violence against women.
The Mossos have opened an internal investigation to clarify whether the use of force was proportional, although police sources defend that the officers acted in response to an imminent threat to their physical integrity.
Meanwhile, residents of Torrassa and Florida continue to demand more security measures. The City Council of L'Hospitalet has announced that it will strengthen surveillance on Torrent Gornal avenue, a thoroughfare that has already been the scene of similar incidents in the past.
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