Cop Shot Dead, Partner Wounded

An assault investigation turned deadly Tuesday night in San José when assailants shot and killed Officer Pedro Alberto Fallas, Zamaro, an eightyear veteran of the National Police force.

Fallas, 29, and his partner, Eladio Obando were in pursuit of two suspects of an assault near Hotel del Rey, the Public Security Ministry reported.

They encountered two men on a white Yamaha motorcycle, matching the assailants’ description, the ministry reported.

Also riding motorcycles, the officers embarked on a chase that led them toward Tibás, north of San José.

Public Security Vice Minister Rafael Gutiérrez said he believed the assailants ultimately sought refuge among a gathering of people at the Kamaquiri stop for buses headed to the Caribbean province of Limón.

When the officers arrived, the assailants began to shoot. The police could not fire back due to the crowd, according to Gutiérrez. Obando was shot once in the stomach and was taken to GuardiaCalderónHospital in stable condition.

Fallas suffered two shots, one in the head and another near his left arm.

He became the ninth Costa Rican police officer to be killed in the line of duty in two years.