Spanish entrepreneur shot dead by masked gang in Venezuela

FOUR masked men shot dead a Spanish businessman and injured his chauffeur as they attempted to steal his car in Venezuela.

According to Spanish press, Sergio Santamaria from Burgos, was travelling on the Lara-Sulia motorway in Simon Bolivar, when the car was intercepted by the gang.

The driver tried to manoeuvre the car away from the car thieves, who then opened fire on the vehicle.

Santamaria, 79, was shot in the hip and leg, and the driver in the head.

Despite being injured, the chauffeur drove to the nearest hospital where the entrepreneur underwent an emergency operation as the bullet had reached his stomach.

But the father of three died two days later on February 10. He emigrated at the age of 16 from his home town of Celadilla Sotobrin and married a Chilean woman.

The driver’s wounds are not believed to be life threatening.