Firefight near Caracas kills rebelleader
CARACAS, Venezuela — Officials in Venezuela confirmed Tuesday that a rebellious police officer who led a brazen helicopter attack in Caracas last year was among those killed in a shootout with security forces.
Oscar Perez was among the seven who died fighting against police and soldiers Monday in a small mountain community outside of Caracas, Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said.
Two police officers were killed and eight others gravely injured, he said.
“The terrorist acts committed by this terrorist cell showed the destabilizing objectives that they were pursuing,” Reverol said.
Opposition lawmakers and human rights groups called for a transparent investigation after video images showed Perez shouting over gunfire that they wished to surrender.
“We’re going to turn ourselves in!” Perez said in the video.
A former police officer, action-movie star and pilot, Perez leaped into the spotlight in June, when he stole a helicopter and used it to lob grenades and fire at two government buildings in Caracas. Nobody was killed in the attack.
Perez, 36, had been one of Venezuela’s most wanted fugitives ever since, periodically posting videos on Instagram calling upon Venezuelans to take to the streets against what he called President Nicolas Maduro’s tyrannical government.
Perez surfaced online again early Monday in videos. Perez shouted over a spray of gunfire that the group wished to surrender, but that the police outside were set on killing them.
“I want to ask Venezuela not to lose heart — fight, take to the streets,” he said. “It is time for us to be free, and only you have the power now.”
Reverol said Perez’s group opened fire first, requiring a response from authorities.