An officer from the Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) allegedly fired five shots at a Carris bus on Sunday following a traffic dispute. The incident resulted in a 16-year-old teenager sustaining serious eye injuries from fragments caused by the gunfire. The exact circumstances of the incident are under investigation.
At approximately 8:25 PM, the bus driver alerted the Loures Police Station of the Lisbon Metropolitan Command (COMETLIS) that the vehicle had been struck by gunfire moments earlier.
While authorities attempted to identify and intercept the suspect, the injured 16-year-old was transported to Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon. Reports indicate the teenager suffered serious ocular injuries.
“With the description of the situation and the characteristics of the suspect and the vehicle used, PSP, after several inquiries, realized that the suspect was a police officer. They managed to identify and confirm it was a PSP agent serving at COMETLIS,” detailed the security force in a statement released on Monday.
The officer allegedly discharged five shots, reportedly instigated by a traffic dispute, as reported by Correio da Manhã. The PSP has not clarified the cause of the traffic disagreement.
On the same day, the authorities confiscated the firearm and suspended the officer from duty, a decision concurred by the National Director of PSP, ensuring immediate enforcement. Additionally, the Commander of COMETLIS promptly initiated a disciplinary procedure.
“The PSP regrets the incident, wishing the injured youth a speedy recovery, and is awaiting the outcome of the criminal investigation and circumstances surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, all steps are being taken in the disciplinary process already initiated,” the statement reads.
Furthermore, the authorities stated that “besides the usual preservation of evidence and the incident site,” the facts were communicated to the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Polícia Judiciária, which is overseeing the investigation.
