Lorraine Williamson
Two men have been arrested by the Guardia Civil for an armed robbery in La Rioja that ended with a dramatic escape and a burned-out getaway car. The suspects, both with long criminal records, are accused of storming a tobacconist at gunpoint before setting fire to the vehicle used in their escape.
The incident took place on the evening of 21 October 2024 in Murillo de Río Leza, a small town southeast of Logroño. Around 8.00 pm, a masked man entered the tobacconist, brandishing a firearm. He pointed the weapon directly at the shop assistant and shouted for her to hand over all the money in the till.
Moments later, the shop’s owner appeared from a back room and confronted the assailant. Despite being threatened at gunpoint, he managed to wrestle the man’s mask and cap from his head, briefly exposing his face. During the struggle, the robber dropped the stolen cash and fled the scene, sprinting to a waiting car driven by an accomplice.
Operation “Shoro”: months of investigation
The Guardia Civil’s Judicial Police unit took charge of the case, collecting forensic evidence and interviewing witnesses. Their investigation revealed that the robbery had been meticulously planned. The suspects had studied the tobacconist’s opening hours and struck just before closing time, when few customers were around.
Their use of gloves, a mask, and a firearm not only heightened the victims’ fear but also helped conceal their identities. However, the criminals made a critical mistake: abandoning their getaway vehicle too close to Logroño and setting it on fire shortly after the robbery.
Burning evidence and new leads
Firefighters discovered the charred car — stolen days earlier in Logroño — and nearby, investigators found a keychain and several small items believed to have been dropped by the suspects. These traces proved vital. After months of work, forensic analysis, and cross-checking known offender profiles led detectives to the two men now in custody.
Arrests in Logroño and Entrena
The operation, code-named Shoro, culminated in simultaneous raids across several towns in La Rioja. Officers arrested the men in Logroño and Entrena without giving them any chance to flee. Both are now before the courts facing charges of armed robbery, vehicle theft, and arson.
Two arrested after armed robbery in La Rioja tobacconist
A long criminal past
According to the Guardia Civil, the pair were already well known to police. Their records include multiple offences involving theft, violent assault, and intimidation, as well as various administrative violations. While the key suspects are now in custody, investigators have not ruled out the involvement of other individuals who may have played minor roles in the crime.
Closing the net
The arrests mark the conclusion of a complex and coordinated investigation that stretched over several months. For residents of Murillo de Río Leza, it brings relief and a reminder of how swiftly a small-town business can become the scene of extraordinary violence.
The Guardia Civil continues to stress the importance of community cooperation in solving rural crimes — and in this case, determination and quick action helped ensure justice caught up with those behind the armed robbery in La Rioja.