A gun was fired in a cafe in Vizela: 21-year-old young man is in intensive care

A 21-year-old young man was shot in the head and seriously injured in the armed incident that took place in a cafe in Vizela in the Braga district. According to police sources, the cafe owner said that the gun went off while he was showing it to his friends; It was reported that the weapon used in the incident was illegal.

Young man seriously injured in cafe incident in Vizela

A 21-year-old young man was shot in the head in an armed incident that took place in a cafe in Vizela city of Braga district on the morning of September 2.

According to the information police sources gave to Lusa, the injured young man is in intensive care at Braga Hospital and his condition is very serious. The incident was reported to have occurred shortly after midnight.

It was reported that the 25-year-old owner of the cafe said that the gun was fired while he was showing it to his group of friends. This narrative is the first information about the incident; How the gun was fired and all the circumstances of the incident will be determined by the investigation of the Judicial Police (PJ).

Cafe owner being investigated as a suspect

PJ included the cafe owner who was said to have used the gun in the file as a suspect. Authorities stated that the necessary conditions for detention were not met and that the person was not arrested.

The police source informed Lusa that the gun used in the incident was illegal. Possession, carrying or use of illegal weapons is punishable in Portugal.

Gun carrying rules in Portugal

It is not free to acquire, possess, carry and use weapons in Portugal; Depending on the activity and weapon type, a license must be obtained from PSP. Possessing and carrying a weapon without a license or contrary to the conditions of the law may constitute a crime.

Security rules also apply to guns that can be carried legally. The legislation requires gun owners to take ongoing safety precautions to prevent accidents; It requires that weapons and ammunition be kept safely separate during transportation.

PTNewsHub review

This incident, which started with the allegation of showing a gun in a group of friends, reveals again why gun access and safe storage rules are vital. Police information that the weapon used was illegal shows the risk that arises when existing rules are violated. Portugal also has a strict regime for licensed weapons; Further tightening gun carrying rules is a political choice that can be evaluated in the public security debate.

Practical knowledge

When a gun, ammunition or suspicious weapon-like object is seen, the object should not be touched, one should move away from the scene and if there is an immediate risk, 112 should be called. In cases where there is no immediate risk, notification can be made to PSP or GNR.

Renascença / Lusa: News about the shooting incident in Vizela

Diário de Notícias / Lusa: Condition of the injured and PJ investigation

Official Gazette: Law No. 5/2006 on weapons and ammunition

gov.pt: Official information on gun licenses