A prominent Irish athlete’s sibling was fatally shot in broad daylight on a bustling street in Barcelona. The 36-year-old man was gunned down on Thursday morning on Carrer de Balmes in the heart of Barcelona, near a National Police office. According to reports from local news outlet ElCaso.cat, the victim, hailing from Dublin’s north inner city, succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head, with the assailant evading capture after the incident.
The shooting occurred on a busy central street in front of the National Police’s DNI office, responsible for issuing National Police ID cards and passports, as stated by the outlet. Following the tragedy, forensic experts set up a tent at the scene while authorities worked to apprehend the perpetrator. Surveillance footage has been released, and the suspected murder weapon has been recovered.
A resident living near the deceased man’s parents in Dublin described them to the Irish Times as highly respected individuals in the community. The family, including the victim’s well-known older brother in the sports world, is held in high regard. News of the Irish man’s untimely demise is swiftly spreading among local residents.
The incident took place amid heightened security in Barcelona ahead of a scheduled visit by Pope Leo XIV on Thursday.