Familial Violence in Torrent: A Night of Violence Between Rival Clans
The debt of 3,000 euros between two brothers, the accusations about infidelity, and the distress of a grieving family overwhelmed by the memory of the dead all converge to describe the moments that led to a deadly confrontation. The shooting occurred Monday night in the town of Torrent, in Valencia. A member of the Miriñaques clan named Rafael, who survived the incident with his relatives, later explained that the attackers intended to kill his brother. The group of attackers fled as shots rang out, while the survivors endured a brutal exchange that ended with no serious injuries among Rafael and his kin, a relief he attributes to a turn of luck and the brothers’ refusal to back down.
Five people were inside the raided house at the time. An elderly couple of 61 years faced mobility challenges after a recent cerebral palsy diagnosis affecting the wife, along with two underage sons known by the nicknames El Duque and El Xavi, and their 57-year-old uncle. Accounts from those involved indicate a large crowd, ranging from 15 to 50 people, gathered on the street outside, some carrying sticks and others firearms. The exact number remains disputed among witnesses.
Approximately half an hour before the clash, a relative had called, threatening to harm one of the couple’s children. Earlier, five years ago, an attack on a doctor with two brothers from the same clan at La Fe Hospital led to a payment of 6,000 euros, believed to be the brother and sister’s share. The money demanded in the present dispute appears to be a continuation of that prior conflict. This family conflict quickly escalated into threats and violence that affected multiple sides.
As the dispute unfolded, the accused family pointed to the sister, married into a different clan, suggesting she had extramarital affairs. They contended that this alleged betrayal provoked the anger of other clans, intensifying the confrontation. Rafael, known as El Duque, stressed that the shooting was not driven by drugs but by personal betrayal. He explained that his sister had relations with her father-in-law, a detail he said sparked the verbal tirade that led to the violent exchange. By the time law enforcement arrived, at least six people were reported as injured or counted among the victims.
Among the victims are a mobility-impaired woman and a sick man
At around ten in the evening on Monday, members of three clans—Echebarría, Vargas, and Voros—arrived on Andorra de Torrent street armed for confrontation, according to those affected. One survivor recalled hearing phrases that hinted at a planned seizure of a brother, and the injuries occurred in his room as the confrontation unfolded. The scene showed the chaos that accompanies familial vendettas and clan rivalries in this community.
Rafael, who goes by the nickname El Duque, criticized the aggressors for lacking the courage to confront their opponents directly. He argued that they were driven by bravado rather than true strength, describing the attackers as cowards who clung to their weapons instead of facing fists. The incident left a deep sense of injustice in the survivors, who insisted that those responsible should be held accountable. The group hopes the National Police will pursue and arrest the assailants for attempted murder and that justice will be served for all who suffered in this attack on a vulnerable family, including a woman with mobility issues and a sick man.
As investigations continue, authorities are expected to piece together the sequence of events and identify the individuals involved. The case underscores the persistent risks of clan-based violence and the toll it takes on innocent family members and bystanders, prompting calls for stronger community safety measures and effective law enforcement responses to prevent further harm.