Illegal cockfights and drugs debts behind fatal shooting on Costa Almeria

A DISPUTE over illegal cockfights and a drug debt were the motives behind the fatal shooting of a 21-year old in Almeria city earlier this month, police reported.
The shooting took place in the midst of a brawl in the Pescaderia district of the provincial capital early afternoon on February 4. When police arrived at the scene they cordoned off the neighbourhood.
Officers came across one man with a leg injury on Calle Resaca and another with a head injury on Calle Maromeros. Both were rushed to Torrecardenas hospital under police custody. Once the 22-year old and the 47-year old had received medical treatment they were transferred to the police station and arrested on charges of inflicting bodily harm.
Officers searching the area then discovered the body of the 21-year old curled up in the foetal position with a bullet wound to the chest inside a house. There were no other signs of violence or traces of blood inside the property, but officers did find several spent bullet casings.
Police forensic and homicide experts determined that a gun had been fired from the street and that seven shots had impacted against the property door, one of which went straight through it. They also found a bullet hole in a window.
Investigations led to number 35 on Calle Ruano, where police arrested 22-year old J.M.C. for pulling the trigger. When officers gained authorisation to access the property they found the gun believed to have been used in the shooting, along with bullets and hashish.
After checking out various hypotheses, investigators concluded both the fight and the shooting were down to a settling of scores related to debts from drug sales and for cock fights organised by the individuals involved.
One of the young men who got into the brawl had taken refuge behind the door of a house, where he was shot down.
J.M.C. is being held in prison on charges of homicide, illegal gun ownership and drug trafficking.