They steal a car and kill a girl while fleeing; they drag her for several blocks

The city of La Plata, Argentina, is in shock after a brutal crime that occurred on Tuesday night, when two teenagers, aged 14 and 17, stole a red Fiat Palio and, in their escape, caused the tragic death of Kim Gómez, a girl of just 7 years old. The minor, who was in the back seat of the vehicle at the time of the robbery , was dragged for approximately 15 blocks, which caused fatal injuries.

An assault that ended in tragedy

The incident took place at the intersection of 72nd and 25th Avenues, where Kim's mother was waiting for the traffic light to turn green. It was at that moment that the armed teenagers boarded the car and forced the woman to get out under threat. At the time, the robbers did not notice the presence of the girl in the back seat, so they fled without noticing her presence.

Kim Gomez's father and uncle devastated by the crime that shocked La Plata.

According to witnesses, moments after beginning their escape, the criminals noticed that the minor was in the vehicle and tried to force her out of the window. However, Kim was trapped by the seat belt, causing her to be dragged for several blocks while the car advanced at high speed. The desperation of the neighbors, who tried to alert the criminals and stop the brutal scene, was in vain.

Pursuit and capture of those responsible

The escape ended when the teenagers lost control of the Fiat Palio and crashed violently into a lamppost, abandoning the vehicle in a ditch and fleeing on foot. By then, Kim had already lost his life due to the serious injuries he sustained.

Hours later, a police operation led to the arrest of those responsible. The 17-year-old was located at his grandmother's house, while the 14-year-old was handed over to the authorities by his own father, in an attempt to cooperate with justice.

Shock and demand for justice

The news has sparked a wave of indignation in the community of La Plata. Neighbors and relatives of the victim demand justice and call for stricter measures against juvenile delinquency, pointing out the seriousness of the crime and the brutality with which the events took place.

"This cannot go unpunished. It is a tragedy that should never have happened," said a close friend of Kim's family, amid the shock caused by the loss of the little girl.

Meanwhile, the Juvenile Prosecutor's Office has begun investigations to determine the responsibility of the teenagers and define the legal measures that will be taken against them. Because they are minors, the sentence they face will be subject to current legislation in Argentina, where the age of criminal responsibility is a topic of constant debate regarding crimes committed by young offenders.

The case has reopened the debate on security and the age of criminal responsibility, in a context where crimes committed by teenagers have a profound social impact. Kim Gómez's family, along with many citizens of La Plata, is calling for a prompt resolution of the case and for justice for the little girl, whose life was taken in the most cruel and inhumane way.

Do you think the age of criminal responsibility in Argentina should be changed after this crime?

What measures should be taken to prevent tragedies like Kim Gomez's from happening again?

How does this case impact the debate on juvenile delinquency in Argentina?

The age of criminal responsibility in Argentina is set at 16, according to the Criminal Regime for Minors (Law 22,278). This means that a 17-year-old adolescent may face criminal charges, while a minor under 14 is considered unaccountable and cannot be tried as an adult. However, he or she may be placed under State guardianship or subjected to socio-educational measures.

The case has revived the debate on lowering the age of criminal responsibility in the country. In 2019, Mauricio Macri's government tried to push through a reform to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 15 years, especially in cases of serious crimes, but the proposal did not prosper. More recently, in 2023, then-candidate and current president Javier Milei expressed his support for a review of the legislation to toughen penalties in similar cases.

On the other hand, official statistics show that crimes committed by minors represent a low percentage of the total violent crimes in Argentina. According to data from the Ministry of Security, adolescents under 18 years of age participated in approximately 4% of the homicides recorded in 2022. Even so, cases of extreme violence such as that of Kim Gómez generate great repercussions and calls for more severe legal reforms.