The Guardia Civil has launched a major operation in Isla Cristina, Huelva, after a shooting late Sunday in the El Rocío neighborhood left three people dead and two others injured. The victims included a pregnant woman; her unborn baby also died. Investigators are treating the attack as a likely act of revenge linked to a feud between two families. Security forces remain on high alert as the search for those responsible continues.
Information from the investigation, two masked individuals arrived on a motorcycle at around 10 p.m. and opened fire on a group of people in the street. The victims were a 39-year-old woman, eight months pregnant, and her 62-year-old mother, both relatives of a man known as El Baba. A 16-year-old boy, who was unrelated to the two women, also died. An 18-year-old man was seriously wounded, while another person sustained minor injuries. Canal Sur reported that the three victims and the unborn baby all died.
The two women killed were El Baba’s sister and mother. Subsequent coverage has linked their deaths to the family conflict at the center of the September 10, 2024, shooting in Huelva’s El Torrejón district. That earlier incident left El Baba’s brother-in-law dead and two others injured. El Baba admitted firing the fatal shot but told the court he acted out of fear after, he said, being threatened with a knife. He was arrested in Gijón on October 12, 2024, and held in provisional detention.
A jury in the Provincial Court of Huelva later found that El Baba caused his brother-in-law’s death, but that the killing was covered by complete self-defense. The verdict did not clear him of every charge: the jury also found him guilty of attempted homicide and unlawful possession of firearms. Prosecutors sought 20 years for aggravated murder. They also sought seven years for attempted homicide, with an additional 18 months for unlawful weapons possession; the private prosecution had sought a total of 27 years.
Shortly after the Isla Cristina shooting, investigators found a burned motorcycle near a local campsite. They believe it was the attackers’ getaway vehicle and suspect it was set alight to destroy evidence and hinder identification. Isla Cristina Mayor Jenaro Orta described the scene as chaotic and noted the large number of shell casings nearby.
Security measures have been stepped up across Isla Cristina and Huelva. The Guardia Civil’s operation aims to apprehend the suspects and prevent further violence. The National Police have also increased patrols, particularly in El Torrejón, to deter possible reprisals. The investigation remains under judicial secrecy, and authorities have urged anyone with information to contact them confidentially.
Isla Cristina, a coastal town with just over 21,000 residents, has been shaken by the scale of the violence. The killings have renewed concern about the family feud and the risk of further escalation. Authorities in Huelva are maintaining heightened security as the investigation continues and efforts to restore a sense of safety in affected communities proceed.
