Dominican Republic: Police Get Confused and Kill Evangelical Married Couple.

Billycafecanal · #1 ● 04-04-2021, 06:23 AM

The National Police of the Dominican Republic reported that it suspended and made available to the Public Ministry several police officers who participated in a confusing incident where a couple lost their lives and another person was injured on Tuesday night in the municipality of Villa Altagracia, San Cristóbal province.

According to the version of the relatives, the event occurred when the couple of evangelist pastors, identified as J.D. and E.M., was returning to Santo Domingo after concluding a day of prayer in Villa Altagracia, about 38 kilometers from the Dominican capital, when several police officers from this town mistook them with criminals and began to shoot.

President Luis Abinader said this Wednesday at a press conference that "in this country there is no longer any impunity, arbitrariness and much less abuse, for anyone or with anyone." He also affirmed that "human life is sacred."

In addition, the president assured that "those responsible have to answer for their actions" and instructed the Ministry of the Interior and Police and the National Police to suspend the agents and clarify the situation.

On his side, the Minister of the Interior and Police, condemned the incident through his Twitter account and described it as "police excess."

Meanwhile, the director of the National Police, Edward Sánchez, also regretted what happened and said that "an investigation was ordered." He stated that it "will be transparent."

A sister of one of the victims indicated that the couple had married on February 17.

The evangelist community is shocked at the death of the young people. Feliciano Lacen, president of the Dominican Council of Evangelical Unity (Codue), and the Table for Dialogue and Christian Representation demanded justice this Wednesday from the director of the National Police.

The National Police reported that the General Inspection and Internal Affairs work together with the Public Ministry to clarify the facts.

It also reported that "it will not tolerate any action among its members that violates national norms and laws." And he added that "if, as a result of the investigation, those indicated are responsible, they will be placed at the disposal of the ordinary justice so that they can answer for the fact that they are charged with."