A disturbance occurred on a street in Zaragoza when a driver tapped another vehicle parked and a confrontation erupted. The incident escalated into a brutal melee during which a young man, identified only by his role in the event, suffered a severe head injury. The assailants used sticks found in the trunk to attack him, delivering strikes while he stood with his wife and their newborn baby in arms. The attackers also warned that they carried a shotgun and signaled a readiness to use it if provoked further.
The incident unfolded on a Sunday that coincided with local elections. It was around 4:35 p.m. when numerous calls flooded the police dispatch from residents on San Eloy Street in Zaragoza’s Oliver district. Callers reported loud shouts, an ongoing argument, and a person bleeding heavily in public view.
Because election day had stretched resources thin, police presence was heightened across the city. Nevertheless, officers from the High Police Headquarters and the Citizens’ Security Brigade were able to locate the two aggressors and the injured party, who were soon transported to Clinico Lozano Blesa hospital in the capital for urgent care. The victim’s cranial trauma required immediate treatment and 15 stitches to close a deep wound. He also sustained a broken finger and other blows to the side and back of his body.
Witnesses recounted that the victim had parked his car on the street, stepped out with his wife and infant, and began walking toward his home when another driver pulled up nearby and collided with his vehicle. The injured man expressed condemnation for the other driver’s action, which sparked a heated exchange and a growing confrontation between the two men.
At a critical moment, the father and son involved moved toward the trunk of the victim’s car, retrieved two sticks described by observers as improvised cudgels, and began beating the young man in the street. The assault continued as the victim collapsed to the ground, with the attackers continuing their blows. Shouts filled the air, including threats to kill the victim and to return with a firearm to finish the job. As the scene drew on, neighbors and relatives of the arrested parties gathered, cheering and offering support to the assailants. When the wail of police sirens finally reached the crowd, many fled the area.
Relatives of the injured person arrived on the scene, attempting to shield him and intervene. They, too, faced threats and were pushed aside as the attackers pressed their violence. The atmosphere was chaotic and tense, with fear and anger mingling in the crowded street.
Following the confrontation, the two men, identified as RCG and RCJ and described as aged 43 and 19 respectively, were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. A restraining order had been issued previously against the aggressors, and the injured party and his family had sought protection under it. The suspects were taken into custody and later brought before the court, where they were released pending trial while the investigation continued. The incident remains a stark reminder of how quickly a minor dispute can escalate into life-threatening violence in a busy urban area, especially during times of heightened public tension and political activity.