A 57-year-old bank robber known by the nickname “Malos Pelos” was shot dead by police in a Spanish town square after opening fire on officers moments after holding up a bank branch, in a dramatic incident that unfolded in front of shocked residents, shoppers and children in the busy central plaza of Puerto Serrano.
The man entered a Caixabank branch in Puerto Serrano, a small town in the Sierra de Cádiz region of Andalusia, armed with a sawed-off shotgun on Wednesday morning. His face covered, he carried out the robbery and exited the building with the stolen money — only to find a Local Police patrol already waiting outside, alerted by residents. Rather than surrender, he immediately opened fire on the officers. Police returned fire in self-defence, striking him in the lower body. Despite medical assistance, he died from his wounds.
One officer was hit in the chest or abdomen during the exchange, but his bulletproof vest absorbed the impact and he escaped with only minor injuries. He was taken to hospital in Villamartín for treatment. The local council publicly backed its officers in the aftermath of the shooting.
The incident is understood to have taken place in the square adjacent to the town hall, surrounded by shops and cafés, with members of the public including children present at the time. The Guardia Civil has launched an investigation, with proceedings placed under judicial secrecy. The sawed-off shotgun and the stolen money have both been seized.
Residents described “Malos Pelos” as a local man with a long criminal history, including a previous bank robbery for which he had served time, and said he had struggled with drug problems. Witnesses described him as visibly agitated during the incident. The attack has left the small town shaken, with armed bank robberies of this nature considered a rare occurrence in the area today.
