Spanish
Santiago. – Jonathan Paulino Rodríguez, alias “Jonathan”, identified by the authorities as the alleged leader of a gang dedicated to assaulting people carrying high-value clothing and objects, surrendered on the afternoon of this Tuesday at the Santiago Prosecutor's Office. He was immediately transferred to the Cibao Central Directorate of the National Police, where he is being investigated for his alleged participation in several criminal acts.
According to police reports, "Jonathan", known within the group as "The Santero" for allegedly being in charge of locating the victims, is identified as the leader of the gang that on November 15th assaulted in Plaza Gómez Díaz, an incident in which Jennifer Altagracia Rodríguez, 36 years old, died, and where another person was injured, as well as two of the alleged assailants.
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Authorities also link him as the alleged mastermind of the homicide of Donatilo Torres Pichardo, which occurred in the El Ejido sector, under a modus operandi similar to that of other assaults attributed to the criminal organization. Researchers claim that Jonathan had coordinated the members of the gang for a long time —including former members with a history of similar events— to identify people with chains, expensive clothes, and flashy items, thus facilitating armed robberies. Paulino Rodríguez remains in custody while being questioned by the Homicide Department, which is keeping several lines of investigation open regarding his possible connection to multiple violent events that occurred in Santiago. So far, the authorities have not offered further details on the process or on the coercive measures that could be requested in the coming hours.
