Overview of a Tragic Shooting Incident at a Canovelles Gun Club
A lengthy, troubling sequence unfolded on a Saturday afternoon when a 20 year old veteran, known as Roger L., opened fire at the Canovelles Precision Shooting Club. The attack took place in the gallery area, where the instructor and gallery manager was killed in front of witnesses. According to reports from EL PERIÓDICO, the event began with an unexpected personal complication as the young man showed an intense, volatile temperament toward a partner, who then escaped without injuries. The security footage reportedly captured the moment the gunman moved behind the instructor and fired multiple shots while the instructor was occupied with sweeping duties. As the shooting stopped, the suspect attempted to flee, while another member present at the scene attempted to intervene, only to be threatened by Roger before the gun did not discharge its final round.
Following the initial incident, the gunman fled the gallery with two pistols used for training. He encountered a driver inside the club and coerced this driver to take him toward Barcelona at gunpoint. In the Catalan capital, the suspect carried out additional coercive acts, forcing two other women to operate the vehicle to continue his escape toward Murcia, where he was eventually detained by a National Police patrol. These actions triggered a sustained police response across multiple jurisdictions, including the Mossos dEsquadra, GEI, and Brimo, as authorities coordinated efforts to locate the suspect and secure the surrounding areas.
The case quickly drew attention to the timing of the attack, which occurred around six thirty in the evening, just after the club’s doors were open for visitors. Investigators noted that the instructor, who had earned respect within the club, was a target deeply affected by the violence. The gallery remained open for approximately an hour after the shooting; only a single witness, the victim, remained on the ground for a time before responders could secure the scene. Police inquiries pursued every lead, including the possibility of a gun license and access to firearms through the shooting club. At the time of the incident, Roger was reported to have been employed at the club, but he had left his position by the end of 2022 and did not own weapons, instead relying on guns loaned to him by the club for training purposes. The authorities continued to work through the evidence and testimonies to understand the motive behind the attack and to determine why the assailant targeted the trainer in such a brutal manner.
Two weeks prior to the shooting, there had been a separate incident at the same workplace in which a different employee was harmed in a confrontation. The club president and family members met in the wake of the events to acknowledge the distress felt by members and supporters, stressing that violent behavior would not be tolerated inside club facilities. Messages from the family expressed remorse and a desire for accountability, while the club leadership sought to reassure members that safety protocols would be reviewed and reinforced to prevent recurrence.
In the aftermath, investigators from the Mossos dEsquadra and other agencies worked to locate the suspect, who fled toward Murcia after taking hostages and threatening multiple individuals. The national police and regional units coordinated a wide operation to track down the suspect and ensure public safety in Barcelona and beyond. The case illustrates the complex interplay between local club life, personal conflicts, and broader law enforcement responses to violent crime across multiple regions.
As the investigation progressed, the authorities confirmed that the shooting was not a random act but the result of ongoing tensions involving the suspect’s association with the Canovelles club and his access to firearms through the facility. The suspect reportedly left the military at the end of 2022 and had been unemployed since then. Although he possessed a firearms license, he did not own his own guns; instead, he used firearms loaned to him by the club. The case remains under review by the Granollers court as prosecutors pursue charges related to the shooting and the subsequent unlawful detentions in Murcia before the suspect was detained by law enforcement. The inquiry continues to focus on establishing a clear timeline of events, an explanation for the motive behind the attack, and the steps needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Residents and club members are reminded that safety within sporting facilities requires vigilance, clear procedures for handling conflicts, and a strong commitment to accountability. The Canovelles community audits its security measures in light of these events, reaffirming that violence has no place in training environments or in any public space. This incident has prompted renewed attention to how shooting clubs manage access to firearms, control member behavior, and respond when threats arise. The ongoing legal process will determine consequences for those involved and establish how facilities can better protect participants and staff moving forward. The narrative of this case continues to unfold as authorities pursue every lead and bring clarity to a difficult chapter in the club’s history. The public is urged to rely on official statements from law enforcement for accurate updates as the investigation moves toward resolution.