Thiago case: the police officer who defended himself during the violent armed robbery has been released

In a ruling that resonates with those demanding safety and order, La Matanza's Justice has ordered the release of Federal Police officer Facundo Aguilar Fajardo. The officer, who defended himself with gunfire during a brutal assault, no longer faces the serious and disproportionate charge of simple homicide with eventual intent. This judicial turn, which honors legitimate self-defense, sends a clear message: those who defend themselves against criminal barbarity will not be criminalized.

The decision, issued by La Matanza's Guarantee Judge No. 3, Rubén Occhipinti, comes after weeks of detention for Aguilar Fajardo. The police officer had been ambushed by four armed criminals while heading to work with his mother. In that life-or-death moment, the officer, acting in legitimate self-defense, repelled the attack by firing a single shot. As a result, one of the criminals, Brandon Corpus Antelo, 17 years old, was killed, and two others, Uriel Alexis Montenovo and Uriel Emanuel Leyva, both 21 years old, were injured. The fourth criminal, Joaquín López Otto Zacarías (20), tried to escape but was captured days later.

Unfortunately, during this violent confrontation, a 7-year-old boy, Thiago Correa, who was two blocks away, was injured and died two days later. Judge Occhipinti, when reformulating the charges, acknowledged that Aguilar Fajardo was not aware of the possibility of injuring someone at that distance. The circumstances of the moment were considered: nighttime, low visibility, and the presence of obstacles such as cars, trees, light poles, and awnings between the scene of the shooting and where the child was located. The new charge is for involuntary manslaughter, aggravated homicide by use of a weapon with excess in legitimate self-defense, and serious injuries, in ideal concurrence, a more accurate reflection of the facts and the officer's true intention.

The magistrate also rejected pretrial detention, considering the officer's ties to the community, who has lived "more than 20 years in the same neighborhood", his permanent residence, family support, and lack of a criminal record. A key point was the "willingness to preserve life" demonstrated by Aguilar Fajardo. After the incident, he made sure that his mother was safe and immediately returned to the street to assist one of the injured criminals. Then, he spontaneously identified himself to a patrol car, recounting "everything that had happened moments before". This conduct was decisive for the judge to rule out any risk of hindering the investigation.

With freedom granted, the police officer must comply with a series of conditions to ensure his proper participation in the judicial process. He is prohibited from carrying or using firearms, must establish a fixed address, and may not be absent for more than 24 hours without prior notice. In addition, he must appear twice a month before the court and attend whenever summoned by the Justice or the police. He was also given a restriction on contact with the injured and the victims' families (both the criminals and the child) and a restriction on approaching within 300 meters (984 feet) of their homes, workplaces, or places they frequent.

The episode, which took place on Wednesday, June 4 at night, around 11:10 p.m., at the intersection of Crovara and Madrid avenues, exposes the harsh reality of insecurity. Aguilar Fajardo stated that, had it not been for the criminals who attacked his mother and him, he would never have reacted in that way. "Today Thiago would be alive", he lamented. His testimony reflected the deep impact of what happened, especially when thinking of his own younger brother, 11 years old: "for him to go through what happened to Thiago, or to be robbed, or to be injured or killed during a robbery, is what I think about every day".

The police officer emphasized that he never imagined how close Thiago was to the scene and that, faced with the threat from the assailants, his only priority was to get out of there. "I was always focused on these four criminals and all I wanted was for them to leave, nothing more", he stated. This case highlights the urgent need to support those, like Aguilar Fajardo, who are forced to defend themselves against the criminality that plagues our society, instead of equating them with the criminals. The Justice's decision is a vital step toward beginning to protect law-abiding citizens.