Chile: Two army officers dismissed for shooting at civilians under the influence of alcohol

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Two Chilean Army lieutenants have been suspended from their duties after being caught shooting at a vehicle under the influence of alcohol after an argument with civilians. The now ex-soldiers were also carrying bulletproof vests, a tear gas bomb and pistols.

The incident occurred during the early hours of Monday morning in the commune of Recoleta, located in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, when Carabineros arrested the two men, officers of Infantry Regiment No. 1 Buin.

In a press release, the military institution stated that the soldiers were involved in an altercation with civilians when off duty, which resulted in shots being fired at a vehicle, but no one was injured.

“The facts reported by Carabineros, show that the off-duty military personnel, in circumstances involving an argument with civilians on a public road and in a state of intoxication, shot at a civilian vehicle using private handguns, leaving no one injured,” said the Chilean Army in the text.

In the clothing of those involved, pistols, an air gun, a tear gas grenade and bulletproof vests were found to be in their possession. The latter two items were allegedly Army property.

According to witness testimony, the uniformed men spread fear among the commune’s residents, who stated that “this seemed like a war,” and that “most of the houses are made of wood, and a single shot could kill someone.”

After the incident came to light, the institution implemented a series of disciplinary measures against the officers, who were dismissed from their duties after the reported events, because it is an “unacceptable conduct for Army members.”

Indictment and appeal

After the arrest of the two lieutenants, on Monday both were brought before the Court to be indicted for crimes associated with the Weapons Law.

One of the detainees was indicted for unjustified shooting in the street and damages, after shooting at the windshield of a vehicle parked in the area. The second was indicted for illegal possession of weapons and carrying a sharp object.

On Monday the Santiago Third Court of Guarantee rejected the preventive detention requested by the prosecution and decreed house arrest for the accused.

Both detainees were also ordered to be placed under national arrest and banned from carrying weapons.

However, these measures were not well received by the Prosecutor’s Office, which sought to keep the accused in preventive custody. As a result, Débora Quintana, prosecutor for the North Central Prosecutor’s Office, verbally appealed the detention control hearing and subsequent indictment.

This led to both officers to be detained while the appeal is decided, which must be decided by the Santiago Court of Appeals.

Source: Infobae