Thursday, November 17, 2011

Costa Rica Bodyguard, Close Protection, Executive Protection, VIP Security, Tourist Security & Security Services

BEFORE you hire a bodyguard in Costa Rica Understand that "Personal Security" is a professional service. Follow our instructions to insure you're getting a truly qualified person to protect your life, the well being of your family and your personnel overseas. If you are a foreigner and reside in a foreign country and need professional security services hire a licensed and insured security protection agent from your country of origin legally on the ground in Latin America. The Falcon Group is that Company.

 
Central and Sout America Dispatch:

Costa Rica (506) 4104-6022

Fax: (506) 2200-1697

Information and Question about our security services write:
email: info@falconandassociates.com

Web Page: www.falconandassociates.com

The Falcon Group and Associates have been in operation since the year 1995 and  offer security services to the general public with offices in Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico and El Salvador, with our live GPS real person monitoring center in the Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Our field offices are strategically placed throughout Latin America. We service the general public, private individuals, tourist, traveler, students, businesses, retailers, resorts, hotels, oil companies, aviation, insurance companies, executives, celebrities, athletes, corporations, law enforcement, military and governments entities on every level of security services and close personal protection services.

Criminals are packing heavier weaponry
                 
By Rommel Téllez
of the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Organized crime is getting heavier weaponry at a rate the security forces cannot keep up with, according to Juan José Andrade, director of Fuerza Pública.

“This is a concern we have been talking about for a while, because criminal groups are getting heavier guns and that's a huge threat to both police officers and civilians.” he said.

Andrade explained that cops can only carry small weapons because they need to comply with the Armas y Explosivos law, which regulates what the officers may or may not carry.

“This phenomena is the reason why our police forces are the ones in Central America that always wear a bulletproof vest. We might need to discuss the law and foresee changes in the short term,” said Andrade.

His comments come after the latest police raid against heavily armed groups on Wednesday night, where police officers arrested several individuals in front of a bar in Llorente de Tibás.

One of them allegedly tried to bribe two officers with around one million colons, according to police. The men were driving a Honda with two Glock pistols in the vehicle, according to a report. Both weapons were without permits, officials said.

The Special Operational Forces and Operational Support Group agents also arrived after reports of other powerful weapons and ammunition in several parked vehicles. After a quick review, officers found seven other weapons, including a U.S.-made AR-15 assault rifle, which uses 5.56- milimeter caliber bullets and has an effective range of at least 500 meters, according to the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública.

Police said another individual had three pistols with four loaders and a total of 31 bullets.

Earlier this week, the security ministry reported that 340 firearms have been confiscated in the first four months of the year
Some say fate, and others just say it was bad luck
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Crime sometimes is like a bolt of lightning, and the victims just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

That was shown clearly early Wednesday when a U.S. citizen suffered a fatal gunshot wound in Jacó when he tried to protect his female companion.

That also was clearly the case about 4 p.m. in the heart of San José when two robbers held up the driver of a bus as the vehicle was making a turn onto Avenida 5.

Judicial agents also made a series of raids Wednesday in the Sept. 18 murder of a passerby who died when he accidentally found himself in the crossfire among gang members.

The Jacó murder happened about 4:20 a.m. When the American, identified tentatively as John Joseph Lonigan or Lonergan left a dance club with a female companion and hailed a taxi on Avenida Pastor, the town’s main street.

A short time later they were confronted by a man that the Judicial Investigating Organization said tried to sell them drugs. The judicial report said that the two passengers, the American and the woman, both declined to make a purchase, and the vendor appears to have become angry.

The man tried to pull the woman from the taxi, and the American came to her aid. In the ensuing fight, the American suffered a bullet wound to the chest and jaw, said a judicial spokesman. He died at the local clinic.

The man with the gun fled on a motorcycle, an investigator said. There was no immediate information on the immigration status of the victim, who many have been just a tourist.

The bus stickup happened on Calle 1. The northbound bus was making a left turn to go east on Avenida 5. There was no police report, and the information comes from witnesses.

Two men on a motorcycle pulled up and
murder arrest
Judicial Investigating Organization photo
The suspect is led to a vehicle in La Uruca.

intercepted the bus as the driver was
maneuvering the vehicle around the corner in heavy traffic. The men quickly took what they wanted from the driver and fled on the same motorcycle. Another witness, a young man, tried to chase the bandits on foot, but they managed to evade him.

Earlier Wednesday judicial agents detained two persons in the Sept. 18 death. That happened in  Bajo Los Ledezma in La Uruca. The victim was a 26-year-old man with the last name of Villalobos.

Agents said that two cars pulled up and the occupants began shooting. Some of the individuals went into a home and others remained on the street firing their weapons. That was when the victim received the fatal shot.

Agents arrested an 18 year old man in Bajo Los Ledezma and a woman, 24, in Pavas. They said the investigation showed that the victim has nothing to do with the drug activity and did not even live in that area.

During the arrests Wednesday, agents said they confiscated cocaine and marijuana
The Falcon Group offers professional security services in Bodyguard, Tourist Escorts, Executive Protection, VIP Protection, Close Protection, Security Drivers, Security Officers, Security Agents, Security Operators, Traveler/Business Security Protection, Driver/Escort to and from the Airport, Armored Vehicles, Corporation Work Place Violence & Terminations, K, R & E recovery, GPS real-time live Person Worldwide Monitoring, High Risk Management, Security Consultancy, Private Investigations, Aviation Security, Security Assessments, Anti-Gang, Anti-Kidnapping, Anti-Extortion, Anti-Terrorism and Witness Protection Services. We at the Falcon Group are the leading security professionals in the security industry in Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico and El Salvador with expertise in all faucets of specialized security and personal protection services. With our proven battle-field tested security strategies implemented by our Tier 1 security operators.



Officials are estimating 557 murders by the end of the year
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Despite an overwhelming police presence, Costa Rica will end the year with an estimated 557 murders. Officials reported that there now are 553 cases, and they expect at least four more before the year ends.

That was the summary given Tuesday by Walter Espinoza, the head of the Judicial Investigating Organization.

Also Tuesday the Fuerza Pública said its officers had detained an incredible 3,056 persons between Nov. 30 and Dec. 15, part of a holiday operation.

The biggest number was drug arrests, said the report. Given that trend, the number of arrests probably will be double that figure by Jan. 5.

Law enforcement officials are pushing for more resources. The Fuerza Pública stands to get another windfall if lawmakers approve a renewal of the corporate tax. Some 95
percent of the proceeds go to the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública for its 14,000 officers.

The murder figures were incomplete. Although the judicial agency said that 205 killings were for revenge, 27 percent were said to have an unknown motive. and the number of murders as a result of stickups and robberies was not given.

There were 477 murders reported last year, so the increase this year is 16.7 percent if the estimate holds.

By contrast, El Salvador reported 8,150 murders by the middle of September.

In Costa Rica, the theory had been that murders were mainly the result of disputes among drug gangs,

This no longer seems to be the case, as the crime seems to be turning into a way to solve personal differences.

There also seems to be active murder-for-hire businesses.
The security officers, security agents and security operators at the Falcon Group are all licensed and insured with all the proper documentation. All of our TEIR 1 security operators assigned to the Falcon Group are from the countries of the United States of America, Israel, Great Britain, Germany, France, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Colombia ex-military, Costa Rica ex-intelligence DIS special operations unit U.I.E. and ex- military Special Forces -from around the world. Our Tier 1 security operators have advance specialized military training and have combat level (PSD) and diplomatic security experience in a hostile environment. Our TIER 2 security close protection agents are ex-tactical law enforcement trained and intelligence specialist personnel from around the world. All agents have dual residency and/or are a citizen of the various countries that they service on a full time bases. All our field security officers, agents, close protection personnel and security operators are licensed to carry firearms and all agents have a security card and clearance from the Ministry of Security that they service.  All our field security agents are in-house and "legally" on the ground 24/7 days a week, 365 days a year.

increasing murder cases remains outside tourist zone
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

High profile murders are tarnishing Costa Rica's international reputation. This is bound to affect high season tourism.

But tourists should be more concerned by luggage theft and street robberies than by fears of being gunned down in a driveby.

Once again the weekend produced a handful of gun deaths. Seven persons died from Friday until Sunday evening, but one man was killed in an exchange of fire with Escazú municipal police. One man died of wounds received Sept. 5.

In addition, Fuerza Pública officers made one arrest a short time after a murder in Paraíso de  Cartago.

As with other weekends, planned killings, bar disputes and vengeance seemed to be the motives creating situations that would not involve tourists.

A 34-year-old woman with the last name of  Guzmán died while driving in Coyal de Alajuela when another car pulled nearby and someone inside opened fire. A companion suffered injuries. Investigators are unsure of the motives.

A driveby also took the life of two men in Hatillo 6 Saturday about 11 p.m. They were identified by the last names of Gómez and Diaz. They, too, were in a vehicle when another car drove by and someone opened fire.

A man with the last name of Soto died about 6 p.m. Friday while standing in front of a family business in Calle Blancos. He was gunned down but the circumstances are not yet clear.

The municipal police action in San Antonio de Escazú took place when neighbors complained of weapons being fired. Police said they found two men in a car who fled when they arrived. When police followed they said they were greeted with bullets, according to investigators.

The 35-year-old man with the last name of Jiménez died and a 17 year old suffered two
bullet wounds, according to Judicial investigators.

That case still is under investigation. Agents said that it appears the weapon used against the police vanished and that the only evidence was a bullet clip.
Investigators said they still were trying to identify the victim in Llanos de Santa Lucía, Paraiso de Cartago. That shooting took place about 6 p.m after a dispute. One of the men involved left and returned with a firearm, said investigators. The victim suffered a bullet wound to the left eye. Another man was injured.

Fuerza Pública officers said they found the suspect in the nearby home of a relative. Police said the weapon involved seems to have been stolen from a security guard a few hours earlier.

Also Saturday a man with the last name of  Salazar suffered six bullet wounds about 8 p.m. in Vista Hermosa de Oreamuno. He was hospitalized at Hospital Max Peralta, said investigators.

About 3:40 a.m. Sunday two men suffered knife wounds during an altercation in the Parque Central de Santa Ana, said investigators.

Law enforcement officials blame the wave of murders on drug gangs and disputes over territory.  They say that the murder toll will reach a record of more than 500 this year.

However, an examination of weekend murders and those from previous weeks, show that there is a growing aggressive tendency that sometimes results in fatal street fights and bar shootings.

Most tourists would not be hanging around public parks or low-budget bars after midnight. Nor would they be likely to become embroiled in a personal dispute.

Hotels, restaurants and casinos that cater to tourists have extensive security precautions in place. If tourists do not venture outside these security screens they are unlikely to have a bad experience.
We provide security services on a daily bases in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico and Colombia.

The Falcon Group is the only certified, experienced and trained private security organization of it's kind in all of Costa Rica that is capable of providing and is presently providing on a full time bases security details to parties in past, present, future kidnappings and extortion matters with anti-kidnapping deterrents, anti-extortion and witness security protection programs 24 hours and 7 days a week 365 days a year. The Falcon Group specializes in K,R & E (Kidnapping, Ransom & Extortion) negotiation, resolutions, consultancy and recovery services throughout Latin America.
Our security system is for the serious and real security matters and our system has been exclusively designed for that particular client in mind that cannot risk misjudgments or misrepresentations made by an unskilled, under experienced, cheapest, largest and second best.

Costa Rica has no army and the specialized  police units are not many, the law enforcement branches are multi-tiered and some have been exploited, they are under paid, under man, under trained and are seen as a central weakness by the organized crime cartels. The present Costa Rica security bodyguards and security companies are not prepared to cope with the ever surging growth and insecurity crime wave within this beautiful country. The new organized crime fashions to name a few the Colombian and Mexican cartels are presently on the ground and operating within the countries borders in the drug trade, murders for hire, express kidnappings, extortion and illegal human trafficking of men, women and children. The insurance giants Petersen International Underwriters of Lloyd's of London (Kidnap and Ransom Insurance Company) placed Costa Rica third after Mexico and Argentina for the most kidnap demands paid $100 Million Dollars. The country of Colombia was beaten by Costa Rica in insurance company payments for kidnap ransom demands. We like to deal with facts and not fiction.

We have seen a surge in abduction and murders in Costa Rica in the past few years of persons and family members by ex-Costa Rican bodyguards and through information provided to kidnappers by these local ex-bodyguards. We cannot stress to you enough not to hire local sub-standard security and none-professional bodyguards to protect you, your family, your personnel and property overseas especially in countries where the economy is not very strong. Where the country is unstable and corruption is prevalent and obvious in the government. Almost 80 % of all Costa Rican bodyguards that we have come in contact with were at one time or another employed by a SPORTSBOOK Betting Centers. These bodyguards are greatly known for their goon squad methods of security protection and collection of debt. This is the extent of these Costa Rican bodyguards experience and training.


Crooks exploit that vulnerable moment when the driver arrives home
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Riding in a vehicle is considerably safer than walking along a city street, but even then there are vulnerabilities.

Plenty of motorists have found that are at the mercy of crooks when they stop their vehicle to enter their secure garage or home driveway.

That is the time when armed men come from the shadows and take the vehicle. That happens even with electric doors.

This is not a new crime, although the frequency might be greater. Such cases have taken place for decades.

The latest victim is long-time Pozos de Santa Ana resident Christopher Morehead. He was confronted by a crook at his
home Thursday about 8 p.m., said the Judicial Investigating Organization. He resisted and suffered a bullet wound to his left side, agents said.

Morehead, identified as a U.S. citizen, went to Hospital San Juan de Dios.

Typically stolen vehicles are dismantled for parts because this sidesteps the need to falsify paperwork.

Whether such a crime can be called a traditional bajonazo requires splitting linguistic hairs. A  bajonazo usually takes place when a motorist stops at a traffic light and a crook appears with a firearm. The word comes from the Spanish and means a low blow, either literally as in bullfighting or figuratively. In Costa Rica, the work also suggests that the crook made the individual get down out of the car (bajarse).
Being a tourist or on business in a foreign country is beautiful and exciting. Unfortunately there is the criminal element and poor security personnel. Our security and armored transportation service will give you a peace of mind.
To keep up-to date on the past, present and future travel, security and crime issues visit our web page (Information) and read the following news paper links in Costa Rica version  www.amcostarica.com/  and the Spanish newspaper verson  www.nacion.com/  
Security minister in red shirt presides at meeting of Tamarindo citizens.
Law enforcement struggles to stem rising crime
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Law enforcement officials are struggling to find solutions for increasing murders, drug smuggling and other crimes that suggest failure of the country's institutions.

The security minister said Sunday that he plans to present to the president of the Corte Suprema de Justicia and the head of the Judicial Investigating Organization a plan for an integrated task force to attack organized crime and the wave of murders believed linked to drugs.

The minister just returned from Tamarindo where he met with residents Saturday in the wake of a home invasion April 1 that took the life of a well-known tourism operator.

Also over the weekend the Ministerio de Seguridad reported an upswing in arrests when criminals were caught red-handed. The ministry said there were  7,263 persons detained that way in 2014, but the frequency has increased in the first months of this year, it said.

The murders continue. The Judicial Investigating Organization reported
the killing of a 21 year old named Rodríguez and the wounding of a 19 year old in Pavas Friday morning. Then the agency quickly reported that yet another body had been found.

Hardly any place appears to be safe. Sunday a 29-year-old woman with the last name of Crespi suffered three gunshot wounds as she was waiting in a vehicle outside the heavily guarded San Sebastián detention center. The gunman walked to the car window where he fired the shots. Then he fled on a motorcycle, said judicial agents.

The crime happened at 5 a.m. There was no explanation why the woman was there at that time, but she was identified as being a family member of individuals connected with a gang.

Even inside the prisons are not safe. Judicial police said a 21-year-old man with the last name of Juárez died in Hospital México early Sunday after being taken there from the La Reforma prison complex in Alajuela. He suffered stab wounds, agents said.

The Ministerio de Seguridad said that Gustavo Mata, the minister, would propose today the creation of an integrated strike force to crack down on organized crime and murders. Investigators say that many murders are the product of a continuing war for control by drug gangs.

Mata noted the relationship and said that he would propose an interdisciplinary team of prosecutors, investigators and judges. Under the Costa Rican law enforcement set up, Mata's Fuerza Pública is supposed to be a preventative police force that does not investigate.

The only exception is the anti-drug police in
the ministry, which does carry out extensive investigations.The Judicial Investigating Organization is an arm of the courts which has been protective in the past over its powers to conduct investigations. It also has an anti-drug section.

Mata will make his proposal to Zarella Villanueva, the president of the Corte Suprema de Justicia; Francisco Segura, director of the Judicial Investigating Organization, and Jorge Chavarría, the fiscal general or chief prosecutor.

Prevention is the policy that Mata organized in Tamarino. He met with concerned citizens. B&B owner Barry Lawson was the man who died as the result of a home invasion April 1. The crooks got $32,000 from a safe. The bulk of the money was for various local organizations that help children.

Mata again boosted the police presence that had been boosted last week. In addition to two quadracycles and two motorcycles, Tamarindo gets a patrol car, a police headquarters and 28 officers. An additional 18 officers are now stationed in Villarreal, also in the canton of Santa Cruz.

Over the weekend these officers swept Tamarindo, Brasilito and Flamingo, all areas with a thriving drug trade. They managed to confiscate small amounts of cocaine and marijuana, said the ministry. Police also checked vehicles and more than 30 motorists received tickets for various infractions.

Residents had complained that Tamarindo was without police after the local station closed.

The stabbing in the La Reforma complex is another indication that the populations there are not fully under the control of guards. Those who have been incarcerated report that inmates have their own system of governance and charge other prisoners for such necessities as mattresses, showers and even time on the toilet.  A mattress may range from 5,000 colons a week for a Costa Rican to 80,000 colons for an expat, ex-inmates have told reporters.

The prisons also have been the scene of severe beatings for years. A recent victim was a man who is accused of killing a 2 year old.  Prisoners took it upon themselves to administer a near fatal beating to the man, and there was a delay in the intervention of guards.

Others who have served time speak of self-styled kings of the various lockups who extort money, food and other items.

As part of its preventative efforts, the Fuerza Pública also deals in outreach.  An example was a march police set up in the Sagrada Familia section of San José Friday. School children with signs marched with police officers, mounted officers and dogs and their handlers.  The marchers called for an end to violence
We have seen first hand that in Costa Rica anyone can earn and buy a black belt in three to six months of training, students are being taught to shoot by none-professionals, who issue certificates with no value and you can even be trained by para-military trainers with serious bad habits (www.youtube.com). This could be disastrous with serious consequences for you the client if left unchecked. You should make a conscious effort to avoid these bodyguards in Costa Rica for personal protection details. When that life is yours, one of your families and personnel overseas.
Our lowest protection level security agent is a Tier 3. This security agent at the Falcon Group will have a minimum of (5) five years of active continuous service as a field close protection agent, verifiable credentials, psychologically tested, seasoned and field experienced. We stay current on all local crime statistics, intelligence and legal issues on a daily bases.
We are constantly innovating and updating our procedures and equipment like our own in-house fleet of brand new ARMORED VEHICLES and we are continually requested to provide High Risk Close Protection in Central and South America for other security companies.We are the ONLY Security Company in Costa Rica that has it's own in-house fleet of brand new 2014- 2016 armored level B4-B6 for immediate deployment 24/7 days a week.
 We cannot stress enough to a potential client to request real certified and experienced personnel and we at the Falcon Group International can only provide these certified personnel in Costa Rica. 

** All our agents are United States of America, British, Israeli, Canadian, French, German and Canadian Military, Law Enforcement and NRA(RSO) shooting certified with real world experience and our staff of certified NRA field instructors are the leaders in the world. (Our agents are never trained by a para-military sub-standard Latin American roaming shooting and training organization. All field security agents receive in-house training by REAL world ex-military operators with vase experience in personal protection on a combat level battlefield proven from the elite military ranks and law enforcement forces.

We have the only full-time women certified executive protection unit in all Latin America. We are recognized as being the leaders in Latin America with first all women Executive Protection Specialist team in our ranks and serving along side their counter-partners who are bi-lingual, physically fit, skilled and well disciplined.

We are very selective in our employment process using the standards from the United States of America, Great Britain, Israel, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Canada all our security agents are of the highest caliber, professionalism, personal character and integrity.

We have attached for your viewing our companies brochure below. If you have any further questions and want information about any of our services, visit and contact us.

Costa Rica security companies and independent bodyguards advertise on the Internet services in bodyguard, executive protection, close protection, tourist escort, VIP protection and family security services to the general public. Most of these security companies and public offer bodyguards are scammers. Your security is serious business and so should you be serious when chosen a security protection company.
Be Aware of any company you hire and whom you hire for your safety and that of your families. All valid security companies have a physical telephone number starting with the numbers (22) and an office associated with a physical office address Do Not call a roaming so called security service company on wheels using a cellular telephone number. These who use cell-telephones as the primary office telephone line are not real. Do not become a victim yourself of a crime or worst a Kidnapping, an Extortion and even Murder.

In Costa Rica many security companies and person who say that they are bodyguards are inadequate, not licensed, not insured, don't have the necessary licenses to carry conceal firearms and their agents are inadequately trained, most bodyguards if any have no validated experiences, some take any where from a 5 to 7 days bodyguard course,  a one day self-defense and shooting course based on a Rambo/cowboy movie and all are using questionable and outdated techniques not tested in the close protection real-world scenarios. These instructors are locals who are not-experts in the fields of security protection, in practical skills nor are they proficient to operate in the real-world. The persons taking these courses pay for these themselves from a non-accredited, non-certified professional from a roaming and traveling Latin American para-military security school from one of the local Latin American countries. It is foolish to think that you can learn the art of close protection in a 2 to 7 day course. These local bodyguards are trained as a standard in assault and swat team tactics, shooting from motorcycles, repelling from buildings, jumping from airplanes and para-military commando tactics and they run around in military uniforms and printed shirts with many patches sewed on everywhere with the wording (S.W.A.T.) which has nothing to do with close security protection see www.YouTube.com Costa Rica Security Training; Costa Rica PMI Training and Costa Rica Bodyguard Training Costa Rica PMI training, Costa Rica VIP, Costa Rica Guardaespalda.
All potential clients should request to review the assigned security agents complete profile and review the file at the companies physical address, if they refuse to provide an address, then ask for the companies physical address, request to see the agents field experience, agents deployments and the agents operational work history, agents special training, agents special military training, the agents actual special law enforcement training, agents intelligence operational service, ask who, what, where and when did the agents received their training and request the background file of each individual security agent assigned for your viewing. A valid specialized security company can provide you with all the specialized protection services information. WE AT the FALCON GROUP ASSIGNED OUR CLOSE PROTECTION SECURITY AGENT TO MATCH THE LEVEL OF THREAT. No other security company even comes close to the services rendered by the Falcon Group International. we are above the rest with a trusted name and reputation. There will be many others who will use some of our slogans and wording on their web pages, they will even attempt to provide our level of individual services. But none will ever duplicate our services.
Visit our WEB PAGE click below: http://www.falconandassociates.com/ and for further information write us at: info@falconandassociates.com the Falcon Group is the only security company in Costa Rica that can offer  Tier I (ex-military), Tier II (ex-tactical law enforcement and intelligence agents) and Tier III level security agents. We are the only security company in all Latin America able to offer this three levels of security services to counter-any threat level.

TEL. Costa Rica (506) 4000-1699
  24/7 days a week



Shooting victims include man in wheelchair
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Four individual died by gunfire Friday, including one victim who was confined to a wheelchair. Shootings continued through the weekend.

The disabled victim had the last name of Obando and was 33, said the Judicial Investigating Organization. He was found about 5 a.m. Friday in the  Proyecto Manuel de Jesús Jiménez in Cartago still seated in his wheelchair on a public street but with fatal bullet wounds to the chest, said agents.

Another shooting victim was a 50-year-old man with the last name of  Jiménez, who was walking about 2:30 a.m. Friday in Los Guidos, Desamparados. The Judicial Investigating Organization said that a vehicle passed him and someone inside opened up and shot him several times. He was dead at the scene, agents said.

Also early Friday in Desamparados a woman died and three men suffered wounds when a man  dressed in black entered a drinking establishment and began shooting. The bar is in  San Antonio de Desamparados. The woman was identified by the last name of  Ramírez. She was 23.

Also Friday agents were called to León XIII in Tibás where the body of a man later identified by the last name of Montero was on a sidewalk. Agents said that the 25-year-old man had multiple gunshot wounds.

The most seriously wounded was a woman with the last name of  León who suffered a bullet wound to the head Saturday night. She was in a vehicle traveling in the  San Diego section of  Tres Ríos. Someone in another car fired into the one in which the woman was riding, said agents.

Also Saturday night a man identified by the last name of Alcazar  showed up at Hospital San Juan de Dios with a bullet wound to the left leg, said judicial agents. The 29-year-old man reported he was shot on a street in  Barrio Corazón de Jesús where he was involved in an argument with another man.

At Hospital México four men showed up with various bullet wounds about 11 p.m. Saturday from La Carpio, La Uruca. Judicial agents said they were victims of individuals in a vehicle who drove through the area shooting randomly. Agents said they recovered shells from a 12-gauge shotgun and from  .38-caliber and a  7.65-caliber weapons.

Also Saturday agents were called to Hospital Calderón Guardia where a man hospitalized there since May 25 died. He was 28 with the last name of  Guerrero, said agents. The man suffered knife wounds in the section of Cartago known as  la Carpintera. He also is believed to have been the victim of an argument


Some say fate, and others just say it was bad luck
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Crime sometimes is like a bolt of lightning, and the victims just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

That was shown clearly early Wednesday when a U.S. citizen suffered a fatal gunshot wound in Jacó when he tried to protect his female companion.

That also was clearly the case about 4 p.m. in the heart of San José when two robbers held up the driver of a bus as the vehicle was making a turn onto Avenida 5.

Judicial agents also made a series of raids Wednesday in the Sept. 18 murder of a passerby who died when he accidentally found himself in the crossfire among gang members.

The Jacó murder happened about 4:20 a.m. When the American, identified tentatively as John Joseph Lonigan or Lonergan left a dance club with a female companion and hailed a taxi on Avenida Pastor, the town’s main street.

A short time later they were confronted by a man that the Judicial Investigating Organization said tried to sell them drugs. The judicial report said that the two passengers, the American and the woman, both declined to make a purchase, and the vendor appears to have become angry.

The man tried to pull the woman from the taxi, and the American came to her aid. In the ensuing fight, the American suffered a bullet wound to the chest and jaw, said a judicial spokesman. He died at the local clinic.

The man with the gun fled on a motorcycle, an investigator said. There was no immediate information on the immigration status of the victim, who many have been just a tourist.

The bus stickup happened on Calle 1. The northbound bus was making a left turn to go east on Avenida 5. There was no police report, and the information comes from witnesses.

Two men on a motorcycle pulled up and
murder arrest
Judicial Investigating Organization photo
The suspect is led to a vehicle in La Uruca.

intercepted the bus as the driver was
maneuvering the vehicle around the corner in heavy traffic. The men quickly took what they wanted from the driver and fled on the same motorcycle. Another witness, a young man, tried to chase the bandits on foot, but they managed to evade him.

Earlier Wednesday judicial agents detained two persons in the Sept. 18 death. That happened in  Bajo Los Ledezma in La Uruca. The victim was a 26-year-old man with the last name of Villalobos.

Agents said that two cars pulled up and the occupants began shooting. Some of the individuals went into a home and others remained on the street firing their weapons. That was when the victim received the fatal shot.

Agents arrested an 18 year old man in Bajo Los Ledezma and a woman, 24, in Pavas. They said the investigation showed that the victim has nothing to do with the drug activity and did not even live in that area.

During the arrests Wednesday, agents said they confiscated cocaine and marijuana

The Falcon Group International Armored Vehicles for rent 24/7 days a week, 365 days a year.