Suspect arrested in Palácio do Gelo homicide in Viseu
The suspect in the shooting at the Palácio do Gelo shopping centre in Viseu, which left one dead and two injured on December 27, handed himself in to the Judicial Police in Coimbra on Tuesday night.
What?
The suspect accused of murdering a woman at the Palácio do Gelo shopping center in Viseu on December 27, 2024, handed himself in to the Judicial Police in Coimbra on Tuesday night.
He has been placed in preventive detention and prohibited from contacting his sister and brother-in-law, according to the presiding judge of the Viseu Court.
In a statement issued by Judge Isabel Emídio, the suspect faces charges of one count of qualified homicide, six counts of attempted qualified homicide, one count of dangerous driving, and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon.
“Only a coercive measure involving deprivation of liberty was deemed adequate, sufficient, and proportional, given the risks of flight, disturbance of public order and tranquility, continuation of criminal activity, and preservation and collection of evidence,” the judge explained.
The Incident
The events unfolded on December 27, 2024, during a dispute between two families shopping at the Palácio do Gelo. Following a heated altercation, the suspect retrieved a firearm—a .25-caliber pistol—from his vehicle and fired several shots at the other family.
The attack resulted in the death of a 44-year-old woman, who was shot in the chest, and injuries to a 23-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man.
The 24-year-old suspect turned himself in to the Judiciary Police (PJ) on January 2, 2025, after extensive negotiations involving his family.
Authorities had been pursuing the suspect since the incident, employing video surveillance footage from the shopping center and distributing his description to security forces in Portugal and Spain.
Community Impact and Investigation
The crime shocked the city of Viseu, leading to heightened police surveillance in the area, particularly in major markets. Both families involved in the altercation are from Gouveia and Régua, the latter being the suspect’s residence.
The PJ conducted a thorough investigation, including operations in northern Portugal and Spain, to locate the suspect. Despite having no prior criminal record, he will now face a judicial interrogation to determine further legal measures.
This high-profile case has raised tensions in the region, with local Roma communities expressing anger over the events and their aftermath.