A police officer was shot and killed while playing in a soccer game in Comas, a district north of Lima, highlighting the escalating violence affecting even those sworn to protect and serve. The shooting occurred on a sports field along Prolongación Trapiche Avenue.
According to family members, the officer, who was off-duty at the time, was recognized by his attacker. The assailant approached him during the game and opened fire.
“He (the shooter) came in, looked at me, shook his head, and then went straight for my nephew, my nephew Jairo,” the victim’s uncle told RPP. “I reacted when I heard the shots.”
The officer was identified as Second Police Officer Jairo Bernardo Gamboa Tineo, 32. He died at the scene. Preliminary reports indicate the shooter fled on a motorcycle with an accomplice.
Investigation Underway
Police responded to the scene and established a perimeter to begin their investigation.
Gamboa Tineo is survived by a two-year-old daughter. The loss underscores the personal toll of the ongoing violence.
This incident comes just days after another police officer was fatally shot in Callao, according to reports. That officer was killed while taking out the trash in the Bellavista district.
These crimes are occurring during a 30-day state of emergency declared by the government of José María Balcázar to address rising crime rates in Lima and Callao. The state of emergency was enacted in response to increasing concerns about public safety.
