CARACAS, Venezuela — A 22-year-old woman was shot in the abdomen by a Bolivarian National Police officer during what authorities are calling a casual conversation gone horribly wrong, but furious Venezuelans watching the shocking security footage aren't buying the "accident" line for a second.
Nairelis del Mar González Ávalo was standing and chatting with PNB officer Siomary Clemencia Fernández Castillo near the Colinas de Bello Monte metro station on Monday, June 1, when the cop suddenly drew her service weapon, fiddled with it, and fired, hitting the young woman in the gut, according to witnesses and disturbing video that has exploded across social media.
The clip shows the pair talking normally, with González smiling at one point. Then the uniformed officer reaches down, pulls out her pistol, manipulates it with both hands, appearing to rack or check it, points in the victim's direction, and boom. González recoils in pain as the officer holsters the gun and steps back without immediately rushing to help.
Emergency crews from Protección Civil and firefighters rushed to the scene, gave first aid, and rushed the bleeding victim to Hospital Domingo Luciani in El Llanito. Her condition was described as serious but stable in initial reports.
