A Chilean presidential guard officer, Gabriel Boricrob, was attacked in Santiago on a Friday night when a group opened fire while he was in a government vehicle. Police sources confirm he was shot and sustained injuries as the assailants fled the scene in the same vehicle. The incident occurred as he was returning from duties connected to the presidential security detail and not while escorting the president directly.
The driver, a sergeant with the Carabineros police force, was alone in the official vehicle and was en route to the Palacio de La Moneda, located in the southern sector of the capital, when three armed individuals intercepted the car. The assailants forced him from the vehicle, shot him in the arm, and then abandoned him before absconding with the car. Local authorities say the sergeant was able to contact help after the attack, with a passerby aiding in guiding him to a nearby police station where he received preliminary medical care before being transported to a hospital for further treatment.
Officials described the guard member as part of the extended team linked to the presidential security group. Although he is a member of the protective contingent, authorities emphasized that he was not the president’s direct companion on that occasion. The incident has prompted concerns about the safety of security personnel assigned to high-level government protection, even when those officers are not actively with the president at the moment of risk.
Medical reports indicate the officer sustained ballistic injuries to the arm, along with facial injuries including cuts to the cheekbone and scalp. Police investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses who were in the vicinity earlier that night. Authorities say the investigation remains active as they work to identify the suspects and recover the vehicle involved in the incident.
In a related development on the same day, three gunmen reportedly broke into the residence of Defense Minister Maya Fernández with the intention of stealing personal belongings and a vehicle. Police sources confirm the minister was not at home at the time, but her husband and son sustained minor injuries during the intrusion. The event has prompted additional security reviews across government facilities and residences nationwide as authorities reassess protective measures for senior government officials and their families.
Undersecretary Eduardo Vergara, who oversees crime prevention on the government side, called for renewed resolve in security efforts. He urged the security forces to raise performance standards and increase the efficiency of operations to combat crime in Chile. The statements reflect a broader push to strengthen protective protocols and ensure rapid response capabilities for officials and their families in urban centers across the country. Authorities assure the public that more resources, training, and coordination among law enforcement agencies are being deployed to address these threats and to deter similar acts in the future. (Police sources)