Puerto Plata— An eight-year-old boy remains in critical condition in the children’s ward of the Ricardo Limardo Hospital after being seriously injured. At the same time, a friend who was with him died after being shot in the head during a shootout between two rival gangs on Wednesday night, allegedly over control of drug sales in the Playa Oeste neighborhood of this city.

The fatality from the confrontation was 13-year-old Emmanuel David Valdés Peña. The injured boy is eight-year-old Gael Monegro de la Cruz, a resident of First Street in the neighborhood above. The children were playing in front of their homes when they were struck by bullets fired by those responsible for this act of violence.

Monegro de la Cruz has gunshot wounds on his left side, with entry through the chest and lodging in the abdomen, so his health condition is of reserved prognosis and requires great care.

The minor remains admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the aforementioned public health center.

Doctors in charge of the case informed reporters that, so far, the child’s health has progressed satisfactorily. However, they remain under observation for possible complications that could put his life at risk.

Regarding this case, the Northern Regional Directorate of the National Police, based in Puerto Plata, reported that it has several young people detained while pursuing others who are allegedly directly involved in the shooting.

According to the police report, the shooting occurred when an individual identified as Miguel Parra (alias Pingüilo or El Peluquero), along with two other men known as Napo and Popó, had a confrontation over control of drug distribution in the Playa Oeste sector.

Colonel Aneuri Ruiz, head of the Dicrim in the Northern Zone, is handling the preliminary investigations into this bloody incident.