The Gold Medal is awarded to the police officer from Andújar (Jaén) who died from a shot after intervening in a neighborhood brawl

MADRID, 12 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The General Directorate of Police, under the Ministry of the Interior, has awarded the Gold Medal posthumously to the policeman who died this Sunday in Andújar (Jaén) after being shot in a brawl in which a neighbor was killed after injuring a another officer he had attacked with a knife and hammer.

Sources from the Ministry of the Interior have confirmed to Europa Press the decision to grant the distinction posthumously to Juan José L.E, a 40-year-old National Police agent, who this Monday was honored by his colleagues with a minute of silence.

The incident occurred around 10:00 a.m. this Sunday, when a fight was reported between two neighbors on Las Monjas de Andújar street, where one of them was hammering the door of another in an aggressive attitude.

At first it was reported that Juanjo, the deceased agent, was wounded with a knife in the struggle with this neighbor, although the subsequent investigation suggests that the reason was that he was shot. The assailant, who was brandishing a knife and a hammer, was also killed by a police officer after fleeing the area on foot for a few meters.

The incident, which was recorded by residents with their mobile phones, has led to an investigation, pending the autopsy and ballistics report. Specifically, it is about determining if the agent died from a shot from the partner who was struggling with the assailant or if he died by chance when he drew his pistol and shot himself with his own weapon.

The third option, according to sources of the investigation consulted by Europa Press, is that the shot came from the Local Police officers who came to the scene to provide help.

The images of the neighbors show that a first agent, the co-pilot of the patrol car, got out of the official vehicle and the attacker quickly headed towards him. The policeman reacted by drawing his weapon, without firing at first while he backed away, walking backwards to later grab his extendable baton.

At that moment, the assailant pounced on him and knocked him to the ground, at which point a first shot can be heard. As the assailant and police struggle on the ground, a second officer -- the driver -- approached on foot and was shot. It is the latter who presented a cardiorespiratory arrest and, despite the resuscitation maneuvers and his transfer to a hospital, he died shortly after.

The swearing in or promise ceremony of main commissioners held this Monday under the presidency of the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has concluded with a minute of silence in memory of the agent who died in the line of duty.

In parallel, the National Police unions have called a minute of silence for the death of their colleague, demanding that the Ministry of the Interior update the training they receive in the use of weapons and provide more "legal security and clear protocols". to the agents that participate in this type of interventions.

They have also requested recognition as a "profession at risk" and that their resources be improved, alluding to the widespread use of bulletproof vests and the availability of Taser-type immobilizing electric pistols.