Officers from the Fuerza Pública in Guanacaste responded to an emergency call about a robbery at a vacation rental property in Nuevo Arenal, Tilarán. The incident resulted in the death of one suspected assailant and the rescue of four American tourists.
According to police reports, authorities received an alert through the 9-1-1 emergency system indicating that a robbery was underway at an Airbnb-type residence. Upon arrival, officers encountered gunfire from three masked individuals who shot at the police unit.
Police returned fire, and during the exchange, one of the alleged attackers died after sustaining abdominal wounds. The other two suspects escaped into nearby mountainous terrain. Authorities secured the scene shortly afterward.
After entering the house, police found four foreign nationals—three women and one man—inside. Two of them were tied up. None of the victims suffered physical injuries.
Emergency services attended to the three women for nervous shock; none required hospital transport.
The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) took over control of the scene to collect evidence and search for those responsible for the violent incident.
