“Francisca did not leave us. they murdered her . Through these words we confirm the death of our beloved Fran. We will miss you and will do everything possible to find the truth,” tweeted the channel Señal 3 of La Victoria, a small community media outlet for which the journalist worked.
The Sandoval case has caused a stir in Chile.
With banners saying “no to impunity”, hundreds of protesters gathered this Thursday, after the announcement of the journalist’s death, in the symbolic Plaza Italia in downtown Santiago to demand “justice and truth ” about the case.
The protest was dispersed by the carabineros, the Chilean police institution, with the use of water spray cars.
Various personalities and politicians have expressed their sorrow over Sandoval’s death on social media.
The President of Chile, Gabriel Boric joined the voices that lamented the murder and assured that there would be no impunity.
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“Violence harms democracy and irreparably damages families. Our commitment is to security and justice, and we will not rest in that desire. My condolences and I embrace the family of Francisca Sandoval, innocent victim of criminals. We will not allow impunity,” the president wrote on Twitter.
The Minister of the Interior, Izkia Siches, reported during an intervention on Radio Pudahuel that Sandoval leaves his young son orphaned: “I have been able to share the deep pain with the family. Nobody goes out into the street expecting this or that this happens to their son” .
“It tells us about the moment the country is going through and how necessary it is to return to a space with greater order,” added the official.
The accused of murder Sandoval was shot during a series of disturbances generated by violent groups in the Meiggs neighborhood.
According to the Chilean press, the revolt was linked to the mafias that operate in this area of the capital and that take advantage of street vending and the exploitation of migrants.
On May 3, the State security forces arrested the alleged perpetrator of the shot, identified as Marcelo Naranjo, 41 years old.
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The general director of the Chilean Investigative Police (PDI), Sergio Muñoz, indicated that “it was established that (Naranjo) was in the line of fire, using a weapon, shooting it.”
Before Sandoval’s death was confirmed, the police had charged Naranjo with the crimes of illegal possession of a firearm and unjustified shooting on public roads.
But now the defendant, who remains in preventive detention during the 90 days of the investigation, could be tried for murder.
An Colombian and a Venezuelan they were also placed under house arrest in connection with the incident.
In the 2022 World Press Freedom Index, published earlier this month by Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), Chile fell to 82nd place. It ranks fifth in South America.
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