Family member seeks help at fire station, believing ‘112’ would take too long
A 17-year-old was shot in the shoulder during the height of disturbances on Tuesday night as he walked along a street in Quinta do Mocho, Loures – an inner city neighbourhood known for outbreaks of violence.
Whether the shooting was part of the disturbances, or motivated by some other reason, is unclear. What does seem clear is that the boy’s family did not believe a routine call to ‘112’ would bring help for him quickly enough.
Instead, a family member drove the injured teen to Sacavém fire station, where firefighters trained in first aid ensured he was ‘stabilised’ and transported by one of their ambulances to Lisbon’s Dona Estefânia children’s hospital.
According to Correio da Manhã tabloid, the boy’s family member (relationship unspecified) “guaranteed that she took this option judging that the boy would not be helped if he called 112 (the country’s central emergency number) because of the violent disturbances that had police and firefighters responding to dozens of call outs”.
The youngster is now interned at Dona Estefânia, and reportedly “out of danger”.
The investigation is in the hands of the PJ, but details of the shooter/ car involved are “not much”, says CM.
“The attack took place at close to 1am when the victim was walking home, and became the target of a shot for no apparent reason.
“The driver accelerated and disappeared from sight”.
