Banfield’s football player killed in shootout

Banfield’s reserve football team player Lautaro Bugatto (20) was shot dead at his house’s front door in Southern Greater Buenos Aires district of Almirante Brown during a shootout between a Buenos Aires province police officer and robbers. The officer was detained and remains in custody.

Police officer Damián Benítez (32) was immediately arrested for "murder" of the player, and will remain in custody as the case’s Judge is doubtful about the policeman’s testimony.

According to Benítez declaration, he was returning home when he saw that robbers were stealing his sister’s motorcycle. Subsequently, he identified himself as police officer and told them to freeze, but robbers shot at him, so a fire exchange started.

But according to first forensic studies of the shootout scene, Beníterz would have shot at least seven times while no traces of shots other than those made by Benítez’s gun were found.

The incident occurred this morning at around 3am in the intersection of Pedro Goyena and Monteverde streets in Burzaco neighbourhood.

Bugatto was currently playing for third division team Tristán Suárez on a loan that would expire on June to mark his return to the first division’s Banfield.