Azua robbery attempt leads to police shootout and three deaths

In Sabana Yegua, Azua, a criminal group attempted to rob a Caribe Express remittance branch, triggering a police pursuit that resulted in three deaths and one arrest. The deceased were identified as Danny Braulio Contreras, Estarling Leonel Peñaló (alias “El Santiaguero”), and Pedro Luis Paredes. One suspect, Sandy Alberto Samboy Garó, was detained, while Michael López Urbáez and Smarling Andrés de León Hidalgo remain at large. Police recovered firearms, ammunition, tactical gear, and vehicles during sequential confrontations in Estebanía and Palmar de Ocoa.

Separately, the Public Ministry has requested preventive detention for Lenin Jhericop Núñez de León, accused of the voluntary homicide of Emmanuel Contreras Medina. The incident, which occurred at the La Javilla baseball stadium in Los Praditos, stemmed from a digital scam involving an iPhone 15 Pro Max listed on Facebook Marketplace. Investigators allege that Joan Manuel Jiménez Medina facilitated a fraudulent transaction, leading to a confrontation where Núñez de León allegedly struck Contreras Medina with a bat, causing fatal injuries.

Additionally, authorities reported a rise in police-involved fatalities, noting that eleven people have been killed by officers since late August during various operations in Azua, Dajabón, and Santo Domingo Este.