To prevent a deadly outcome, a neighbor’s timely intervention proved crucial for a woman who had suffered gender-based violence. She escaped the apartment with her teenage partner, a 17-year-old armed with a knife, though not without sustaining serious facial and hand injuries that required sutures, according to reports from La Opinion-El Correo de Zamora, part of the Prensa Ibérica group.
In the confrontation, the assailant lunged the blade toward the victim, cutting her brow and injuring the hand that held the weapon to block the assault. The injuries appeared to require stitches, as corroborated by the same sources.
Facing the perpetrator’s extreme aggression, the woman chose to leave the apartment. She found refuge at a neighbor’s home and summoned the National Police. By the time officers arrived, the teenager had already left the scene, though he initially confronted the neighbor who had sheltered the victim.
“A very violent person,” as neighbors described
The aggressor, who already had cases at the Juvenile Court and was described as “very violent” by those consulted, shared the address with his partner when the attack occurred, in the early hours of a recent Saturday. He was detained the following morning, around 11:00 a.m., after National Police units cornered him in the woman’s residence, a home where she lives with her children in the Pinilla neighborhood.
The juvenile court investigation could charge the teen with attempted homicide, given the danger faced by the woman when she returned to her flat at midnight and found him waiting with the knife aimed at her body. The risk to the victim was extreme, and she was placed in safety after police located and arrested the suspect in a multi-vehicle operation. The arrested teen had not yet appeared before the magistrate overseeing cases of gender-based violence.
Reports indicate the teenager had previously fled from Zambrana, where he had been housed for minors due to prior thefts. He was sought by authorities to return to the facility and comply with the court-ordered measures following his past offenses. After spending a night in the custody of the Zamora police, he was to be transferred back to the special juvenile center to complete the mandated period of supervision.
The youngster’s troubled history has led him before the Juvenile Prosecutor on prior cases of theft and robbery, with the authorities pursuing admission to Zambrana as part of an attempt to redirect his path. Pending the completion of the investigative proceedings, the magistrate could order his placement in Topas, a high-security facility, possibly until the age probation terms conclude. This would align with special legislation that does not impose prison terms for individuals who are nearing 18 but are still under the juvenile system.
The judge could also decide on detention in a standard prison once he reaches the statutory age, or keep him interned in the juvenile center as a precautionary measure to safeguard the victim until a trial is conducted and a final disposition is reached.
In light of gender-based violence, contact 016
The 016 helpline offers support to gender-violence victims around the clock, every day of the year. Specialists provide assistance in multiple languages. If you or someone you know is facing physical, psychological, sexual, economic, or any other form of abuse, call 016. The service does not appear on phone bills. For urgent help, emergency responders are reachable at 112.
Neighbors and official assessments emphasize the importance of swift reporting and support when threats emerge. These services aim to connect victims with protection, counseling, and practical guidance to navigate immediate danger and long-term safety planning.