A councilor from Capitán Bado, a border town in Paraguay near Brazil, was killed in a gun attack while driving through the community. The National Police confirmed the incident to the public on Wednesday as the councilor, who was en route between neighborhoods, fell victim to a violent shooting.
The mayor, Teobaldo Aquino, a member of the opposition Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), was set to return home on Tuesday night after attending the regular city council meeting. This information was provided by the head of the Department of Security to EFE. The officer explained that the assailant appeared on a motorcycle and opened fire, striking Aquino multiple times. Early reports indicate Aquino sustained twelve gunshot wounds. He was transported to a nearby medical center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators with specialized units in criminalistics and forensics have been dispatched to conduct a thorough search for the perpetrators. The police spokesperson revealed that Aquino had a prior criminal record dating back to 2015 for marijuana possession and trafficking, though the current case stands on its own as a fatal attack against a local official.
Media outlets have noted a troubling pattern surrounding Aquino’s family, including earlier assaults on relatives. ABC reported that the Aquino family endured several incidents, including an attack on the council member’s nephew in 2021 and a shooting at Aquino’s brother in 2017, from which he survived. These details are part of the broader context being examined by authorities and local observers.