Police have confirmed that the cousin of Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo was shot dead in his native Argentina after attempting to flee the scene of an armed robbery.
Geronimo Rojo and companion Ivano Rodrigo Barboza tried to assault retired police chief Guillermo Atencio on Sunday evening as he left a cash machine, police confirmed, as reported by Goal.
However the 17-year-old and his companion quickly made to leave the scene on a motorbike after Atencio pulled out a firearm and attacked his two assailants.
Barboza died instantly after a bullet hit him in the head but Rojo was caught in the shoulder after the former police officer fired off seven shots against the duo.
The Red Devils defender’s relative was rushed to a nearby hospital but was unable to recover from his injury and passed away on Monday morning.
Atencio was arrested at the scene and held on suspicion of murder because Rojo and Barboza were shot in the back as they fled.
The retired offer was released on Tuesday however after a judge ruled that his actions had been an excessive force of self-defence at most.
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