Mobile phone
The case begins with a violent robbery that ended in the death of a young tourist in shore city streets near Barcelona. Four teenagers used force to seize a cell phone from the victim, then attempted to sell the device in a nearby shop weeks later. The incident occurred on March 15 and, according to reports gathered in Barcelona, the suspects did not surrender or abandon their plan after the tourist was left severely injured and unconscious in a traffic lane. Police say the approach taken by the attackers, combined with a possible buyer contact about the stolen devices, suggests this may not have been their first violent theft.
Investigators from the Mossos d’Esquadra research unit in the San Martí district started from scratch to identify the four suspects. In addition to witness testimony from the victim’s two friends, security footage from nearby businesses played a crucial role. The investigators reconstructed the sequence of events and traced a vehicle that the assailants may have used to flee. Piecing together these clues led to the identification of the attackers and ultimately to the recovery of the victim’s phone, reinforcing the investigators’ suspicions about the method and the individuals involved.
Preventive prison
Days after the death, the Martorell police unit conducted a targeted operation at a mobile phone shop in Abrera, Baix Llobregat. A Moroccan national, who had prior violent robbery accusations, was under suspicion for handling stolen devices at work. He was arrested, and the shop was searched. During the operation, the recovered batch included the tourist’s phone, which had been reported missing in Ronda Litoral. The suspect had been preparing a resale and, when confronted by law enforcement, admitted involvement and explained how the stolen items circulated through the local market. Mossos investigators view this individual as the person who knowingly accepted and moved goods of questionable origin.
To the court
The four teenagers accused of assaulting the tourist were brought before the 18th Court of Barcelona. The judge ordered their provisional detention at Quatre Camins prison after reviewing statements and police reports. The defendants face charges of willful homicide, violent robbery, intimidation with dangerous weapons, and abuse of superiority. While the court acknowledges the apparent danger the suspects pose, it is noted that there is no definitive evidence that the intent was to cause death with premeditation, though the circumstances were undeniably lethal.
The deceased, a 25-year-old Canadian national, was visiting Barcelona with two friends. On the night of the incident, the group had spent time at a nightclub in Port Olímpic and headed back from Parc del Poblenou around dawn. Four assailants confronted them, using blunt objects to intimidate and steal their belongings. Two friends managed to escape; the victim did not. The attackers seized the victim’s cell phone and continued to pursue him, forcing him to dart through a gap in a brick barrier that bordered a steep drop. The tourist collapsed on the asphalt, staying still and unresponsive in the traffic area. A passing truck driver and nearby taxi passengers reported the scene, and the victim died hours later at Hospital del Mar. Multiple witnesses provided statements during Mossos inquiries.
Taxi driver version
Saray, a taxi driver, and her husband, who works in the same service, describe the morning’s events. They were en route to begin their shift around 5:05 a.m. when they spotted a truck braking hard and stopping abruptly near the 23rd exit. The victim lay unconscious with a head injury but still breathing. Saray and her husband stopped traffic to guard the scene and called emergency services. They were approached by two of the victim’s friends, who spoke Spanish and helped with information. The witnesses recalled that the friends had told them about a prior incident in which thieves had attempted to rob them, but they fled and did not witness the final moment of the tourist’s fall. There was a sense of urgency and shock as responders arrived.
The friends described the attackers as persistent and reckless, with the robbery tactic continuing past the point of danger. Saray emphasized that they urged bystanders not to touch the victim and cooperated with authorities to secure the area. This testimony provides a human perspective on the morning, illustrating how quick actions by ordinary people can influence the response to a violent crime.
Truck driver version
The truck driver who was filming a commercial near the accident scene at the time offered a direct account. He reported seeing a right-side impact and the moment the vehicle braked. He found the tourist lying face up in the roadway. He contacted emergency services, then described how others dispersed and no longer remained at the scene. He confirmed that a bystander might have walked away calmly if given more time, underscoring the fleeting nature of the moment and the difficulty of capturing every detail in a chaotic incident. The driver added that there was no longer anyone nearby after the police began their search for witnesses and footage.
Authorities continue to review the identified individuals and the available evidence to determine the exact sequence of events and the roles played by each suspect. The case underscores the dangers faced by pedestrians in urban areas and the importance of rapid police response, careful witness collection, and diligent analysis of surveillance footage to solve violent crimes.