Lucho Plátano

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Vásquez and the second or maternal family name is Villenas.
Lucho Plátano
Born
Luis Ignacio Vásquez Villenas

(2002-05-05) 5 May 2002 (age 22)
San Ramón, Chile
Accomplice(s)María Jesús Fernández
Details
Victims4
Span of crimes
2022–2023
CountryChile
Date apprehended
8 February 2023

Luis Ignacio Vásquez Villenas (born 5 May 2002),[1] better known by the nickname Lucho Plátano, is a Chilean criminal and serial killer currently imprisoned for four murders that occurred in the Santiago Metropolitan Region between May 2022 and January 2023, culminating with the murder of Daniel Valdés Donoso, commissioner of the Investigations Police of Chile (PDI). While he was a fugitive, he was declared by the courts as the “most wanted in Chile”.[2] He was apprehended in February 2023.

Crimes

During his period as an organized crime leader, Vásquez typically recruited minors from his commune, La Granja, known as "Los Parra", to help him steal vehicles parked in the driveway.[2] According to testimony from his partner, María Jesús Fernández Uribe, he was a "recognized figure" in his commune, being an "admirable model" to his followers.[3]

First murders

On 24 May 2022, Vásquez and his gang tried to steal Matías Ortega Yáñez's car, but after engaging in a fight with Ortega, which ended with a shot to his leg, the attackers fled. That same night, they murdered a friend of Ortega's, José Ignacio Bórquez Zapata, who was living with a trafficker in the area.[3] Days later, he killed Giovanni Óscar Araneda Cofré, who had previously fought with his cousin Danilo Moya Araneda, a close friend of Vásquez, about a sum of money earned in a robbery. His third murder occurred on 17 October, when he fatally shot Vito Luciano Osses Reyes. After receiving testimony of the events that occurred, which also involved a minor, he became a nationally searched individual by investigators.[4]

On 12 December 12, there was an attempt on his life by an enemy gang, but they confused the Vásquez group with a group of 4 innocent young people, all four ending their lives.[5]

Murder of Daniel Valdés

On January 17, 2023, Vásquez attempted to steal the car belonging to Daniel Valdés Donoso. After seeing the robbery taking place, Valdés raised his shirt to shoot Vásquez with his weapon assigned by the Investigations Police (PDI), but the latter shot him four times in the face, killing him. According to Vásquez's driver, Gabriel Inostroza Morales, he realized that Valdés was a PDI commissioner only after the murder. Vásquez spent the next three weeks hiding from the authorities in his partner's apartment, located in the commune of San Ramón.[6] After the events, he tried to sell Valdés' gun.[7]

Capture

Vásquez was finally captured and detained by the PDI, in a collaboration between its homicide, robbery and crime, anti-narcotics departments and organized crime brigades, and the tactical reaction brigade on 8 February, after spending 22 days in hiding.[8]

After being arrested, three people belonging to the street gang of Vásquez, including his personal driver and his partner, were formalized as concealers.[9] He is currently under preventive detention in the high-security module of the Rancagua Prison on charges of simple robbery, robbery with intimidation, theft of property for public use, frustrated homicides and consummated homicides.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Civil Registry and Identification Service of Chile, CERTIFICADO DE NACIMIENTO, Uso exclusivo para ASIGNACION FAMILIAR, Circunscripción: SAN RAMÓN, Nro. inscripción: 1.341, Registro: Año: 2002, Nombre inscrito: LUIS IGNACIO VÁSQUEZ VILLENAS
  2. ^ a b "Quién es "Lucho Plátano", el asesino de un policía chileno con un largo historial delictivo". Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b Batarce, Catalina; Durán, Israel (21 February 2023). "¿Ciudad de Dios? La historia de cómo "Lucho Plátano" reclutó a menores de edad a quienes proveía armas para homicidios". La Tercera. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  4. ^ "¿Quién es "Lucho Plátano"?: Acusado de asesinar a comisario de la PDI y a otras tres personas sigue prófugo". Meganoticias (in Spanish). 24 January 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  5. ^ "Ahora vinculan a "Lucho Plátano" con el crimen de 4 jóvenes: él era el blanco asegura abogada". www.24horas.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Nuevos antecedentes sobre el caso de "Lucho Plátano": Revelan testimonios de cercanos al delincuente". Meganoticias (in Spanish). 22 February 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  7. ^ ""Lucho Platano" trató de vender arma del comisario: las razones de la Fiscalía para sostener tesis de intento de robo". 24 horas (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  8. ^ Batarce, Catalina (9 February 2023). "Detienen a "Lucho Plátano", presunto autor del homicidio del comisario Daniel Valdés en La Cisterna". La Tercera. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  9. ^ ""Los perros": aseguran que "Lucho Plátano" se rodeaba de adolescentes a los que enseñaba a delinquir". BioBioChile - La Red de Prensa Más Grande de Chile (in Spanish). 21 February 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Niegan que "Lucho Plátano" haya sido agredido en la cárcel de Rancagua". CNN Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 April 2023.