2006 San Miguel shooting
On 3 May 2006, a mass shooting occurred at a bus company in San Miguel, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Former employee, 55-year-old Eugenio Villela, opened fire on his past co-workers, killing two people and wounding four others before fleeing the scene. He later surrendered to authorities and was sentenced to 32 years in prison in 2009.
| 2006 San Miguel shooting | |
|---|---|
  Location in San Miguel Location in San Miguel (Greater Buenos Aires)  Location in San Miguel Location in San Miguel (Argentina) | |
| Location | La Primera de Grand Bourg San Miguel, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Date | 3 May 2006 10:00 a.m. (ART; UTC−03:00) |
Attack type | Mass shooting, workplace shooting |
| Weapons | 9mm semi-automatic pistol |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Injured | 5 (4 by gunfire) |
| Perpetrator | Eugenio Villela |
| Motive | Economic problems |
Shooting
At 10:00 a.m. (UTC−03:00; ART) on 3 May 2006, Eugenio Villela drove to the La Primera de Grand Bourg bus company in his Ford Fiesta.[1][2] He greeted his former co-workers on the ground floor before traveling to the first floor, where senior employees were meeting to discuss company issues.[1] Villela entered the meeting room and opened fire on those inside with a 9mm pistol, firing thirteen shots.[1] After the shooting, Villela fled the scene by foot and went to his brother-in-law's house, where he attacked and injured his brother-in-law.[3][4] Villela then drove to the local police station and surrendered.[1][3]
Victims
Six people were shot in the attack; treasurer Pablo Galazzo died instantly, while accountant Isaac López died at a hospital from his injuries.[1] Four other people were severely wounded and transported to hospital, where they recovered from their injuries.[1]
Perpetrator
The shooter was identified as 55-year-old Eugenio Villela, a former employee of La Primera de Grand Bourg who had served as a manager before selling his shares and leaving the company in December 2005.[1][5] During his time with the business, his co-workers noted him to be an aggressive man who acted violently and yelled at people, but was sometimes depressed.[1] Villela was allegedly owed Arg$800,000 for selling eight buses after he left the company, but was told by his former colleagues that he would not receive the money.[3] This was reportedly his motive for the shooting.[3]
Legal proceedings
On 4 May, Villela was transported to court, having been charged with two counts of homicide, four counts of attempted homicide, and illegally carrying a weapon of war.[3][6] He stated that he did not remember the attack and that he had intended to return the pistol used in the shooting to the company.[3][6] Villela also said that he had no debt with the company.[7] A psychiatric test was performed on the day of the shooting, as well as blood and urine samples, which determined that Villela was not intoxicated at the time of the attack.[1]
In 2009, Villela underwent trial in the Oral Criminal Court 4 of San Martín.[8] His defense argued that Villela was mentally ill at the time of the attack and could not comprehend his actions.[8] Those wounded in the shooting testified that Villela had shot them, with then-treasurer José Laborde stating that Villela threatened to "make shit" of his colleagues after he left the company.[8] A woman also testified that she saw Villela admit to the crime as he surrendered.[8] Psychologists and psychiatrists testified that Villela had no mental disorders and understood what he did.[8] On 25 March, Villela was found guilty on all charges and was sentenced to 32 years in prison.[2][8] Prosecutors had sought 40 years' imprisonment, but the jury lessened Villela's sentence because of his lack of criminal activity prior to the attack.[8]
References
- "El ex directivo de una empresa de transporte que volvió a los balazos". Pagina12 (in Spanish). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- "Condenado a 32 años de cárcel por matar a dos socios". Clarín (in Spanish). 25 March 2009. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- "Declaró el hombre que mató a ex socios y dijo que no recuerda nada". infobae (in European Spanish). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- "Locura, disparos y muerte en una terminal de colectivos". El Dia de La Plata (in Spanish). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- "Disputa empresarial: matan a 2 directivos". Ámbito. 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- "Declaró el hombre que mató a directivos de su ex empresa". Ámbito. 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- "Aseguran que no había ninguna deuda con el hombre que mató a dos ex socios en San Miguel". Clarín (in Spanish). 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- "Penan con 32 años de prisión a un hombre que mató a sus socios". La Nacion (in Spanish). 25 March 2009. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.