Traffic dispute leads to fatal shooting of police sergeant in Dominican Republic

Dominican authorities have taken a 21-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy into custody in connection with the fatal shooting of a National Police sergeant, officials said Friday.

The victim, Sgt. José Ramón Henríquez Mejía, was assigned to the Central Cibao Criminal Investigation Subdirectorate. According to preliminary findings, he was conducting intelligence work Thursday when he collided with the motorcycle carrying the two suspects in Barrio Nuevo, La Canela municipal district.

The incident reportedly sparked an argument that escalated into an exchange of gunfire, and the sergeant was struck in the left shoulder and died.

The detained man was identified as Steven Antonio Sandoval Bautista, alias "El Vico." Police said both suspects surrendered through relatives at the Homicide Prosecutor's Office in Santiago after sustained police pressure. The teenager, who surrendered first and handed over a Glock 19 pistol, remains under police custody at the Dr. Arturo Grullón Regional Children's Hospital, where he is being treated for a facial wound.

Investigators recovered an institutional CZ pistol, sandals and the two motorcycles at the scene. Both suspects will be handed over to the Public Prosecutor's Office.