CEIBA, PR – A violent drive-by shooting in the eastern coastal town of Ceiba, Puerto Rico, claimed the lives of five individuals, prompting law enforcement to temporarily shut down a section of the local highway, according to the police reports on Tuesday.
In the tragic incident, three victims were discovered lifeless inside a bullet-riddled pickup truck. The fourth victim was found dead on the nearby pavement. The fifth individual succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at a local hospital, as per the police records.
Among the victims was a 16-year-old boy, revealed Police Commissioner Antonio López in an interview with WKAQ radio. He also noted that firearms were discovered inside the shot-up pickup. The victims had reportedly just departed from a cock-fighting venue in the neighboring town of Naguabo.
While the exact cause behind Monday’s fatal shooting remains uncertain, López stated that the authorities suspect a connection to drug trafficking activities.
This year, the island, with a population of 3.2 million, has already witnessed 28 homicides, a slight decrease compared to the same period last year, when the count stood at 30.