Holiday dreams turned into a nightmare for two American tourists in Portugal in the early hours of Wednesday, October 15.
At 3:23 a.m., emergency services received an alert. Two stabbings occurred in a public area in the center of Cascais.
Upon arrival, the INEM encountered two severely injured individuals, one of whom was found “lying supine on the ground, unresponsive and showing no evident signs of life.”
Despite resuscitation attempts, there was nothing more that could be done. Death was declared on Rua Afonso Sanches, where the crime reportedly took place.
A source from the Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) disclosed that the incident began shortly before the alert. One tourist was walking to his accommodation when, “without any prior interaction,” he was approached by three men who playfully attempted to touch the hat he was wearing.
The American, aged 34, informed authorities that he asked the individuals to “stop their behavior,” and was immediately punched “three times” in the face.
After this assault, the tourist called his friend, who was nearby at a nightlife venue called ‘TAJ’ on Travessa da Alfarrobeira.
The 35-year-old friend quickly arrived at the scene, sparking “a verbal altercation” between the victims and the suspects. One suspect, armed with a knife, delivered “several slashes to the face, arms, and back” of the Americans, resulting in the death of one and serious injury to the other.
The suspects fled in an unknown direction in a vehicle parked near the scene.
The case has since been taken over by the Polícia Judiciária (PJ), who confirm that the suspects remain at large.
The deceased American’s body was transported to the Guia cemetery in Cascais by the Parede firefighters’ vehicle. The injured individual was taken to Hospital de Santa Maria in Lisbon, in a serious condition with “deep cuts on the face” and arm but stable.
About a dozen members from the fire department, INEM, and PSP were present at the scene of the tragedy.
