A wave of shock swept through Santiago, especially around the Abastos Market, as the National Police investigate the alleged homicide of the owner of a local butcher shop in the Compostela market area.
Several patrols from the National and Local Police were dispatched to the scene to investigate what happened. In the first two hours after the incident, the Abastos Market was cordoned off and access to its facilities was restricted.
The initial information suggests the event occurred around 4:30 a.m. when the deceased, Antonio Costa, owner of the Chelo & Muñico butcher shop, arrived at the market to open his stall. The only person present at that hour was the security guard who unlocked the premises.
According to unofficial police sources, the door was left ajar and three other individuals gained entry through it. The guard, the sole eyewitness, described a violent altercation at the Muñico stall.
In response to the confrontation, Costa allegedly grabbed an iron handle to defend himself, but it was wrested away by one of the attackers who reportedly struck him with the object. As a result, Costa fell to the ground. Only the autopsy can determine whether the death was caused by the impact of the weapon or a blow to the head during the fall. The security guard was also assaulted while trying to intervene.
According to the same accounts, one of the suspects had already been detained around 5:00 a.m., with details about the other two participants provided by the detainee. It was confirmed that no weapons were involved.
Security officials also reported that the Santiago mayor expressed sorrow and offered condolences to the family, adding that the events should be clarified as quickly as possible. She did not wish to disclose further details while the case remains under seal, and she confirmed that an autopsy would be performed.
In the end, the Abastos Market returned to normal activity after the body was removed from the premises.
Confusion and Grief
Market traders have long known Antonio Costa as someone who arrived very early, around 5:00 a.m. It was at that time that the violent incident is said to have occurred, according to the neighboring vendor who worked beside the Muñico stall.
Management has not issued statements to the media.
It is worth recalling that months earlier Costa had suffered a fire in a warehouse he owned in the same city, which was completely destroyed. At that time, suspicions arose that the blaze might have been intentional.