The perpetrators used the mataleón method to leave the victim without
knowledge and assault it
Last May, the Civil Guard arrested two individuals involved in a violent robbery and assault, using the extremely dangerous "mataleón" method.
The meticulous and exhaustive investigation carried out by the Vecindario Main Post Investigation Unit has been instrumental in clarifying the facts and bringing those responsible to justice.
In the early hours of May 21, 2025, at around 03:00 a.m., the victim was walking with two suitcases to the airport to catch a flight, when she was approached by two men, one of them on a scooter, insistently asking for cigarettes. After being ignored, the men parted ways, only to reappear minutes later at a bus stop where the complainant was checking the schedule, constantly watching her from the sidewalk across the street.
The premeditated nature of the assault became evident when the victim, as she resumed her walk to the chosen bus stop, was attacked from behind using a chokehold, known as the "mataleón" (kill-it) method. The swift and violent action left her gasping for air and presumably unconscious. When she regained consciousness, the woman found herself on the ground, bleeding from her nose. The swift intervention of passersby alerted by the victim's screams was crucial in assisting her until the arrival of the Civil Guard and medical services.
As a result of the assault, the complainant suffered a fractured nasal bone, head trauma, and a shoulder contusion, demonstrating the brutality of the attack.
The attackers stole a suitcase containing a wallet containing 40 euros, personal documents, a credit card, and a mobile phone.
Following the report, investigators from the Vecindario Main Police Station's Investigation Area conducted a thorough review of the security cameras located near the robbery scene. This allowed them to reconstruct the assailants' movements before and after the robbery, confirming that the incident was premeditated and perfectly organized. The attackers selected their victim and developed a detailed plan for the robbery. The investigation expanded to track the public bus routes used by the criminals, identifying their boarding and exit points.
Therefore, on May 27, 2025, one of the attackers was identified. The victim recognized him without a doubt, and he was arrested. A day later, on May 28, 2025, the investigation culminated with the identification and arrest of the second suspect, a minor who had escaped from a Juvenile Detention Center.
The proceedings have been made available to the San Bartolomé de Tirajana Duty Court and the Provincial Prosecutor's Office.
