A civil guard kills his ex-girlfriend, also an agent and registered in VioGén, in the barracks of Llanes

A guardia civil has been murdered by her ex-partner, who was also a police officer, inside the Llanes barracks. The incident occurred on Wednesday, August 5, and has sparked widespread condemnation and calls for action against gender-based violence. Laura C.V., a 50-year-old agent of the Civil Guard from Madrid, was shot dead by her ex-husband, Dámaso F. S., a 49-year-old Galician officer. Both were divorced and had three children together: a son aged 18 and twin daughters aged 14. The aggressor died shortly after being attended to by medical services. The attack took place just before 13:30 local time. Dámaso entered the barracks armed and approached Laura, shooting her before attempting to flee. During his escape, he opened fire on other officers stationed within the premises, who managed to repel the aggression. A lieutenant tried to assist Laura and pursued the attacker. In the exchange of gunfire, both the victim and the aggressor sustained injuries. Dámaso later succumbed to his wounds while receiving medical attention, according to a spokesperson from the Civil Guard’s Asturian Command. Laura was registered in the VioGén system, which tracks cases of gender-based violence. Sources close to the investigation revealed that she had filed multiple complaints against her ex-husband for domestic abuse. As a result, an order of separation was issued against him, which remained active until December of last year. Currently, Dámaso was assigned to the Zamora Command. It appears that recently, he received a resolution to separate from service, meaning he did not carry a regulated weapon at the time of the incident. Investigators are now examining how he obtained the firearm used to kill his ex-wife. The Spanish government's anti-violence department, along with regional authorities and the town council of Llanes, have jointly called for a demonstration of outrage against this crime. They have designated Thursday, August 6, at 18:30, to hold a public gathering outside the municipal building in Llanes. This event will serve as a symbolic stand against gender-based violence, which they describe as a serious violation of human rights. The authorities have emphasized their collective commitment to addressing such incidents and supporting the family of the victim. In a joint statement, the three levels of administration, national, regional, and local, have expressed their firm rejection of the crime and deep sorrow over the tragedy. They have pledged to provide psychological, legal, health, protection, and support resources to the victim’s family and circle. The statement underscores that gender-based violence is a severe breach of human rights and that society must unite to combat it. The declaration also urges citizens to join the protest, reinforcing the need for community solidarity in tackling this issue. This case marks the 34th fatal incident linked to gender-based violence this year, bringing the total number since 2003 to 1,375. The authorities are working closely to ensure a coordinated response and ongoing support for the affected individuals. The incident highlights the urgent need for continued efforts to prevent and address domestic violence, particularly within law enforcement communities. The outcome of the investigation into how the aggressor acquired the weapon will likely add further layers to the understanding of this tragic event.