Lorraine Williamson
Two people have died, and four others have been seriously injured after a late-night shooting in El Ejido, Almería, in a case being investigated by the Guardia Civil as possible domestic violence.
A 25-year-old man has been detained as the alleged suspect after a shooting shortly after 11.00 pm on Monday, May 18, in the El Canalillo area of the municipality. The two people killed are reported to be his parents. The injured include two adults and two young children, one of them the suspect’s seven-month-old son.
The Guardia Civil has taken charge of the investigation, while emergency services and several police units were deployed overnight. Spanish media reported that the suspect was located and detained in the early hours of Tuesday after a search operation.
What readers need to know
The shooting happened in El Ejido, a town in Almería province, in the Poniente Almeriense area of Andalucia.
According to Reuters, the four injured victims were taken to hospital in serious condition. They include a man, a woman and two minors. Spanish reports said the children include a seven-month-old baby and a girl aged around two.
The case remains under investigation. Authorities are also looking into how the suspect obtained the firearm, as Reuters reported he did not have a gun licence.
A family tragedy now under Guardia Civil investigation
The first emergency calls came late on Monday night after shots were heard in the El Canalillo area, close to Balanegra.
Cadena SER reported that a neighbour raised the alarm at around 11.15 pm, triggering a major emergency response involving the Guardia Civil, Policía Nacional, Policía Local and 061 health services. Officers reportedly found a vehicle with bullet impacts, with the two deceased victims inside.
EFE reported that the Guardia Civil organised a large search operation using territorial, citizen security and investigation units, with support from local police. A drone with a thermal camera was also reportedly used during the search.
The suspect was detained several hours later. The investigation is now seeking to establish the full circumstances of the shooting.
Two children among the injured
The presence of two very young children among the injured has deepened the shock around the case.
Spanish reports said one of the injured minors is the suspect’s seven-month-old son. Another young child, reported by Cadena SER as a two-year-old girl, was also injured.
The injured adults are also reported to be in serious condition. At least some of the victims were transferred to hospitals in Almería and the surrounding area.
Officials have not yet released a full public account of what led up to the shooting.
Why the case stands out in Spain
Fatal shootings remain relatively uncommon in Spain compared with many other countries.
Reuters noted that Spain recorded 53 firearm homicides in 2023, giving it one of the lowest rates of gun-related killings in Europe and worldwide. Strict firearms controls mean that shootings of this kind often draw national attention when they occur.
That wider context matters. This is a serious local tragedy, but it should not be read as evidence of a wider wave of gun violence in Spain.
El Ejido declares official mourning
The shooting has caused deep shock in El Ejido and the wider Almería province.
El País reported that El Ejido Town Hall has declared one day of official mourning following the deaths. The municipality has also called for stronger measures against violence and the illegal trafficking of weapons in vulnerable areas.
For now, the priority remains the condition of the injured and the Guardia Civil investigation.
A community left waiting for answers
The El Ejido shooting has left two people dead, four others seriously injured, and a local community trying to understand how a family conflict could end in such violence.
The Guardia Civil investigation will now focus on the sequence of events, the origin of the firearm and the condition of those still in hospital.
Further official updates are expected as the case moves through the judicial process.