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OIJ agent slain outside home

A 32-year-old agent of the Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) was slain Friday at his home in Alajuelita, a neighborhood in southern San José.

Allan Sánchez, who worked with the OIJ for nearly seven years, was killed in front of his home on Calle Cochea around 12 p.m. According to OIJ Director Jorge Rojas, Sánchez returned home from the gym and was met by at least two men. He was shot once. After being wounded, Sánchez walked 30 meters before collapsing in front of a neighbor’s home.  

Three suspects were detained Friday afternoon on suspicion of involvement in the murder. Rojas said two men and one woman were arrested, though he did not provide the names of the suspects during an afternoon press conference.

Sánchez spent five years with the Visual Inspections and Evidence Recollection Section and nearly two years with the Special Service Tactic Response while with the OIJ. He had been on a leave of absence from the OIJ and was off duty Friday. He was unarmed at the time of his death and Rojas said there was no evidence of a robbery or forced entrance into his home.

Sánchez had a 13-year old son and was in the process of a divorce from his wife. Rojas said the investigation was still too premature to determine a motive for the killing.

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