Man shoots woman then kills himself at medical office in Villalba
The shooting occurred Monday morning at a doctor's office in barrio Aceituna; the woman was hospitalized while the man's death is being investigated as a suicide.
File photoThe short version
- Metro Puerto Rico reported that police are investigating an incident in which a man died by apparent suicide and a woman was shot at a medical office in barrio Aceituna, Villalba
- NotiCel reported the events occurred near 8:06 a.m. at Dr. Méndez's office on PR-547 km 2.5 after a 9-1-1 call about shots fired
- El Nuevo Día reported the director of the Ponce CIC said the man shot the woman, believed to be his partner, then killed himself in the office
- Telemundo Puerto Rico reported the woman worked as secretary at the office, the man was identified as Ángel Javier Torres Colón, and the two had a past relationship
Incident details
Puerto Rico police are investigating a shooting that occurred on Monday, Oct. 19, at a medical office in barrio Aceituna, Villalba. According to NotiCel, the events took place near 8:06 a.m. at the office of Dr. Méndez on highway PR-547, kilometer 2.5. A 9-1-1 call alerted authorities to shots fired. When officers arrived they found the woman wounded by gunfire and the man dead.
The woman was transported to a hospital in the area. Her medical condition remained unknown as of Monday afternoon, Metro Puerto Rico reported. El Nuevo Día reported that the director of the Ponce CIC, Justiniano, stated the man entered the doctor's office and shot the woman, whom authorities believe was his partner. She was alive with vital signs when paramedics took her away. The man then shot himself and died at the scene.
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Investigation
El Vocero reported the woman was critically wounded and was taken to a hospital in Ponce. Telemundo Puerto Rico reported the victim worked as a secretary at the office and that the deceased, identified as Ángel Javier Torres Colón, had been a patient there. The outlet added that the two had a past relationship although Torres Colón was married.
Agents from the Homicide Division of the Ponce Criminal Investigation Corps (CIC) along with the on-duty prosecutor were dispatched to investigate the circumstances, according to all four outlets. The victims had not been publicly identified by police in the initial reports from Metro Puerto Rico, NotiCel and El Nuevo Día.
Where the sources differ
All sources agree that a man shot a woman at a medical office in barrio Aceituna, Villalba, on Monday morning before killing himself, that the woman was hospitalized, and that the Ponce CIC and a prosecutor are investigating. NotiCel and El Nuevo Día give the time as approximately 8:06 a.m. or shortly after 8:00 a.m.; El Vocero says about 9:06 a.m. El Nuevo Día and El Vocero describe the woman as the man's partner. Telemundo identifies the dead man as Ángel Javier Torres Colón, says the woman was the office secretary, and reports they had a prior relationship while he was married; other outlets do not name anyone or give those details. El Vocero says the woman was critically wounded and taken to Ponce; others say her condition is unknown and do not specify the hospital.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state the woman's current medical condition or whether she has been identified by authorities. They provide no information on any possible motive for the shooting or on the exact sequence of events inside the office. No updates have been given on the status of the investigation or when further details might be released.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Hombre le dispara a mujer y se quita la vida en oficina médica en Villalba
- Reporting Mujer resulta herida de bala y hombre se quita la vida en oficina médica en Villalba
- Reporting Balean a mujer en oficina médica en Villalba
- Reporting Hombre le dispara a secretaria en oficina médica y luego se priva de la vida
- Reporting Hombre balea pareja en oficina médica en Villalba
How we checked this
Metro Puerto Rico, NotiCel, El Nuevo Día, Telemundo Puerto Rico and El Vocero all reported on the Villalba shooting. The man's identity and the couple's past relationship rest solely on the Telemundo report. The precise time of the incident differs slightly among the outlets.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.