Dominican police neutralize 5 dangerous fugitives in nationwide shootouts
In a series of coordinated tactical raids across the country, agents from the Central Directorate of Investigation (DICRIM) neutralized five notorious criminal fugitives after being met with heavy gunfire. The simultaneous operations targeted high-profile suspects wanted for homicide, contract killings, and armed robbery.
The National Police confirmed that all suspects succumbed to their injuries while receiving medical care. Officers recovered five firearms from the scenes, including four Glock pistols, some equipped with high-capacity extended magazines.
Breakdown of the Operations
- Santo Domingo Este: Police engaged 35-year-old Jenny Santos Franco Jiménez, alias "El Come Hombre de Los Frailes" (The Los Frailes Man-Eater). Wanted under arrest warrant No. 2026-AJ0015784 for a February 2026 homicide, Jiménez opened fire on agents with an unlicensed .45-caliber Glock before being fatally wounded.
- Espaillat Province: In the Gaspar Hernández municipality, tactical units targeted Ricardo Polanco García, alias "Richard Gatillo" (Richard Trigger). Identified as a suspected hitman and the primary enforcer for a major crime syndicate led by "Dimanchi," García resisted arrest by firing at officers. He was found with a Glock pistol and two 30-round extended magazines.
- Los Alcarrizos & Barahona: Three additional suspects fell in separate shootouts. In Barahona, Carlos Julio Féliz Sena—wanted on four judicial orders—fired at DICRIM agents with a homemade weapon before being neutralized. In Los Alcarrizos, Domingo Santiago Valdez ("La Fama") and Gabriel Luis Montero Valdez ("Campeón") barricaded themselves inside a residence and opened fire on a tracking patrol, resulting in a fatal shootout.
Institutional Response and Public Debate
The National Police reiterated its strict stance on armed aggression, warning that law enforcement officers will continue to respond with decisive force whenever their lives or those of innocent citizens are threatened.
The rapid succession of deadly encounters has sparked intense debate on Dominican social media. While many citizens expressed relief and praised the police for cleaning up the streets ahead of the holiday season, human rights advocates and community groups criticized the actions, calling them extrajudicial executions and a "bloodbath" that fails to address the root causes of systemic violence.