A fatal gunbattle occurred on a Tuesday in the Cortés department of northern Honduras, resulting in the deaths of a man and his son and leaving a police officer seriously injured. The incident unfolded in the municipality of Santa Cruz de Yojoa, where authorities say the attack happened despite a response from the National Police. Local police spokesperson Belkis Valladares confirmed that officers met an armed assault and managed to repel the attackers, though Virgilio Velásquez and his son Yansel Velásquez died after being transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
One of the responding officers sustained critical injuries, including a stomach wound that required urgent surgical intervention. Officials have not disclosed the identities of those involved in the confrontation and are actively investigating to determine the sequence of events and the potential motives behind the clash. The investigation is being conducted by local and national security authorities who are examining witness accounts, examining security footage where available, and coordinating with medical facilities to gather a complete timeline of events. Both the police force and community leaders have called for calm as investigators work to establish what happened and why.
Authorities stress that the incident is under careful review as investigators seek to understand the circumstances leading to the firefight. Officials indicate that additional information will be released as soon as it is verified and verified again, with a focus on providing the public with accurate details while preserving the integrity of the ongoing investigation. The community of Santa Cruz de Yojoa awaits updates from the police and local government, hoping for clarity regarding the attack and the steps being taken to prevent future violence. [Attribution: Official Police Statement, Santa Cruz de Yojoa, Honduras]