Tucumán police officer dies after being shot by colleague

Nicolás Agustín Albaca Romano, a 23-year-old officer of the Tucumán Police, has died after seven days in intensive care. He succumbed to severe injuries, including a gunshot wound to the left thorax and pancreatic damage, at the Hospital Centro de Salud.

The incident occurred around 0:30 on Tuesday, October 6, at a police guard post located at the intersection of Charcas and Díaz Vélez. According to the reconstruction by the Homicide Prosecution Unit II, agent Benjamín Eduardo Díaz was inside the booth while Albaca Romano was outside with two other officers. During the encounter, Díaz’s service 9mm FN Browning pistol was discharged, striking Albaca Romano.

While Díaz initially claimed the shooting was an accident occurring during weapon handling, the legal classification of the case has changed. Following the victim's death, prosecutors have upgraded the charges from serious injury to homicide. Díaz had previously been placed in preventive detention due to risks of flight and interference with the investigation.