A 53-year-old cyclist has been shot dead by a stray bullet in La Linea, a municipality near the popular British resort of Estepona on Spain's Costa del Sol. The victim, identified as Alonso S.C., was caught in the crossfire of a violent row, according to police.
Police believe he was shot by accident and have confirmed he had no criminal record. He was reportedly cycling through a residential neighbourhood when he was struck by a bullet. One local described Alonso as a "good man". Unconfirmed reports suggest he may have been trying to break up a street fight when he was killed.
Investigation underway
The shooting unfolded in the early hours of yesterday morning, with police launching an investigation. No arrests have been made so far.
La Linea is just a short drive from Estepona, which has 4,529 registered British permanent residents, about 6% of the municipality's total population. The two destinations are a 35-minute drive from each other.
Rising crime in the area
Recently, three British teenagers were arrested after police reportedly uncovered an arsenal of weapons linked to a suspected plan to steal drugs from a gang in a violent raid. Officers reportedly seized five semiautomatic pistols, machetes, baseball bats, clown masks and other disguises during the raid.
Estepona, one of the most visited resort towns on the Costa del Sol, has experienced a notable rise in crime, driven largely by drug-trafficking networks and localised incidents. Despite that, it is still considered one of the quietest towns on the Costa del Sol.
