Puerto Rico Police arrested four people Thursday at the Las Mesetas public housing project in Arecibo in connection with a double homicide reported on September 14. Charges were expected to be filed the same day. The shooting occurred in the Barranca sector of the Hato Abajo neighborhood in Arecibo, where two men were killed and two others wounded.
One victim was identified as Raúl Méndez Román, 41, a resident of Arecibo who had a prior criminal record for violating the Controlled Substances Law. According to police, officers responding to PR-653 around 11:25 PM found four gunshot victims in front of a pizzeria; the wounded were calling for help. Captain Carlos Vélez, director of the Criminal Investigations Corps (CIC) in Arecibo, said the group was socializing in the area when several individuals approached and opened fire multiple times.
Authorities recovered a firearm at the scene, and confirmed one of the deceased had a prior criminal record.