Three Cops Gunned Down by Fellow Officer at station

SAN JUAN – Three police, two of them women, were shot and killed Monday in Puerto Rico by a fellow officer during a heated argument at the Police Command in Ponce, a city on the south side of the Caribbean island.

Police reported that Lieut. Luz Soto, Maj. Frank Roman and patrolwoman Rosario Hernandez were gunned down by Candelario Rivera, a fellow officer stationed at the Ponce Police Command, in circumstances still under investigation.

The building where the Ponce Police Command is located was evacuated for security reasons after Rivera said he had planted an explosive device inside.

Explosive Division agents carried out an inspection of the building and of Rivera’s car.

Puerto Rican Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla visited the scene to find out in person what had happened.

Rivera, who was presumably on sick leave, was arrested immediately after the shooting and his two guns were seized.

The cop in custody was taken to the Ponce Drugs Division before being admitted to a nearby hospital.