The community of Colbún is shaken by the tragic event that has unleashed a wave of indignation and distrust towards the authorities. The death of a 33-year-old man, Alexis Astorga Muñoz, after his arrest by a group of Carabineros who were on duty, has unleashed deep unrest in the local population.
The Legal Medical Service has revealed that the cause of his death was “mechanical asphyxiation caused by external cervical pressure”, thus rejecting the initial hypothesis of cardiac arrest provided by Carabineros. This revelation has unleashed a wave of claims and demands for justice from the victim’s family and the community in general.
Alexis’s sister, visibly shocked, has expressed her discontent with the statements of the police authorities, challenging the lieutenant colonel of the Linares Carabineros Prefecture to retract his statements about the circumstances surrounding her brother’s arrest. “Let him recant, my brother was not stealing, he is not a thief,” she said, highlighting the injustice and pain that this situation has caused her family and community.
The version provided by Carabineros, which initially justified the arrest as a response to a call for help from passers-by, has been called into question by the results of the autopsy and the statements of the victim’s relatives. According to the official version, after the arrest, Alexis began to convulse and subsequently lost consciousness, being declared dead despite resuscitation attempts by the agents and the medical team.
However, the victim’s family maintains that Alexis suffered from schizophrenia and that his arrest was violent and disproportionate. They assure that the young man never represented a threat and that his tragic death could have been avoided if he had acted with greater sensitivity and professionalism.
Alexis’s father has announced his intention to sue the State and Carabineros for defamation, affirming his determination to clear his son’s name and memory. Meanwhile, the investigation continues, with the Homicide Brigade and the Legal Medical Service working to clarify the facts and determine the corresponding responsibilities.
This incident has highlighted the need for deep reflection on the use of force by police forces and the importance of guaranteeing respect for human rights and the integrity of all people, regardless of their condition or situation. The search for justice for Alexis Astorga Muñoz becomes an urgent call for transparency, accountability and unrestricted respect for human dignity.