A police officer shot and killed a violent 15-year-old thief who tried to rob her.

A City Police officer shot and killed a violent 15-year-old thief who, according to the ongoing judicial investigation, attempted to rob her while she was on her way to catch a bus in the Buenos Aires locality of Moreno. The incident occurred this Sunday afternoon and is being investigated as a case of self-defense.

The episode took place around 7:30 p.m., at the intersection of Lincoln and Copérnico streets. The officer, 31 years old, dressed in civilian clothes, was on her way to work when she was intercepted by three individuals riding a red 110 cc motorcycle.

Two of them got off the vehicle and, according to the victim's testimony, attempted to rob her. One of the suspects was carrying a handgun and the other was wielding a wrench. The third individual remained on the motorcycle.

According to the case file, the woman moved a few meters away, identified herself as a member of the force, and gave a warning. As the threat persisted, she fired three shots with her service weapon, a Pietro Beretta 9-millimeter pistol. One of the projectiles struck the face of one of the alleged assailants, who fell to the ground. The other two fled on the motorcycle and remain at large.

The young criminal who was shot was identified as Santiago Tomás Beltrán, 15 years old, residing in Moreno. Patrol Command personnel confirmed his death upon arriving at the scene, where the body was found with a gunshot wound to the chin.

According to judicial records, Beltrán had a criminal record. In May of this year, he had been charged in a case for aggravated robbery in a populated area and in a group, after participating in the theft of a motorcycle. In that case, no detention measures had been taken.

The investigation of the incident is being handled by the Functional Instruction Unit (UFI) No. 8 of the Moreno–General Rodríguez Judicial Department, which classified the case as "attempted aggravated robbery in a populated area and in a group and homicide."

So far, no procedural measures have been taken against the officer involved, who was not injured. As part of standard procedure, her service weapon was seized for ballistic analysis.

Scientific Police personnel worked at the scene, conducting the corresponding forensic examinations, and a team from the local Departmental Directorate of Investigations (DDI), which continues to search for the fugitive accomplices.