Prosecutor investigates homicide of missing youth in Maipú: detainee declared that he would have shot him

The Western Prosecutor's Office and the National Investigation Police are investigating the disappearance of a 19-year-old man who went missing in the commune of Maipú on Tuesday, October 20. A 20-year-old suspect has been detained as the alleged perpetrator of a homicide. During his interrogation, the detainee stated that he shot the victim, causing him to fall into a drainage channel. The investigation is led by prosecutor Yasne Pastén alongside a team from the People's Location Brigade. The initial steps in the case included immediate contact with the family, interviews with witnesses, and the collection of surveillance camera footage. These actions were taken under a protocol for suspected accidents established between the Public Ministry and the police. Authorities focused their search efforts on the Zanjón de la Aguada, a waterway identified as the last known location of the victim. On the morning following the detention, officers conducted tracing operations and waded through this specific sector. The search extended to the point where the channel begins its course along the Mapocho River. Despite these efforts, the body of the victim had not yet been located. Prosecutor Pastén explained that investigators interviewed several individuals during the proceedings. This included questioning the person believed to have been with the victim immediately before he disappeared. The detained suspect provided a version of events claiming responsibility for the shooting. He indicated that after being shot, the victim fell into the channel. While this account suggests the victim ended up in the water, the prosecutor noted that the exact dynamics of the incident remain to be fully established through ongoing investigative work. The area around the Zanjón de la Aguada is considered critical to the inquiry because it is where the alleged crime occurred. Consequently, teams are working to trace the channel and clear vegetation in hopes of finding physical evidence. Pastén stated that one hypothesis derived from the suspect's declaration is that the victim fell into the water. However, she cautioned against discussing specific motives until more concrete data becomes available. Although the detainee mentioned a problem that arose on the day of the incident, this claim has not been corroborated by other evidence. The prosecutor revealed that the victim and the accused knew each other for many years and maintained a friendship. Regarding the weapon used in the alleged shooting, authorities confirmed that it has not yet been found. Pastén indicated that she is evaluating the possibility of requesting an extension of the suspect's detention. This consideration stems from the fact that several investigative procedures are still underway and have not yet yielded results. The suspect was scheduled to appear before the Ninth Guarantee Court of Santiago in the afternoon block for a legal hearing. Police Sub-Inspector Garcia Huidobro detailed the operational response. Upon receiving the complaint, standard protocols were activated immediately. The primary focus of the search remained concentrated on the flow of the Zanjón de la Aguada with the objective of locating the young man's body. Investigators continued their work to establish the sequence of events and gather new forensic leads. The coordination between the prosecution and the police aims to clarify the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and potential killing. Discrepancies exist regarding the age of the suspect in some reports. One source described the detainee as a minor aged 17, while others consistently identified him as a 20-year-old adult. The official statements from the prosecutor and police referred to the individual as a young man or subject without specifying a minor status in the detailed accounts. The legal process is currently active, and charges may be adjusted or dismissed depending on the final findings of the investigation. Until a court renders a judgment, the accused is presumed innocent under Chilean procedural law. The investigation continues to unfold with further searches planned for the waterway. Officials emphasized the importance of securing the scene and preserving potential evidence amidst the difficult terrain of the channel. The presence of vegetation complicates the recovery efforts, requiring manual clearing to ensure no items are missed. The families of both the victim and the suspect were likely informed of the developments, though specific reactions were not detailed in the available information. The focus remains strictly on factual determination and the recovery of the body to confirm the cause of death. No further public statements were made regarding the emotional state of the parties involved or the broader community impact. The narrative relies on the procedural updates provided by the legal and law enforcement officials. The case highlights the challenges faced when a body is potentially submerged in a flowing water system. Time is a factor in such cases, prompting the continuous deployment of resources to the site. The outcome of the court appearance will determine the next steps in the custody status of the accused.