Thursday last week, at 11:47 a.m., a failed assault attempt at a private bank in Coronado* in San Jose resulted in the death of three thieves, due to the quick action of the security officer.

According to Marco Carrión, Chief of Investigators Department, the three thieves were identified as:

Carlos Quesada, 46, of Costa Rican nationality, and father of his two accomplices. He had a criminal record for aggression in 2010 and for dealing drugs in 2011. "He had received a sentence for selling drugs, he was in prison for some years," said Carrión.

The other two thieves were brothers and sons of Carlos Quesada. They were identified as Jessie Quesada, 29 years old, Costa Rican nationality, who had criminal record as of illegal possession of a weapon in 2009, and Daniel Quesada, 21, Costa Rican nationality, who had no criminal background.

The investigators confirmed that the thieves used two pistols one of 9-millimeter caliber was stolen from a Judicial Investigation officer in the Atlantic area. The other pistol, a .38 caliber, did not have registry in the country and it is presumed that it was acquired outside the country and never was registered.

The intention of the assailants appears to have been the robbery of a couple who were going to a private bank to make a deposit of ¢30,000 ($49,600). However, thanks to the rapid and effective action of the security officer, who also carried a 9-millimeter weapon, the intended victims were defended and the three thieves were killed.

With respect to the security officer, investigators have requested that his name be kept secret to protect the investigation due to the seriousness of the crime. Police did confirm that he is a Costa Rican with extensive experience in handling firearms.

Investigators report that the thieves somehow obtained information about the day, time and place for the deposit. Carrión states that the thieves must have completed an intelligence operation before the robbery. “We are trying to establish how they got the information about the victim and the time she was going with the money to enter the bank. The position of the thieves was focused on taking the money quickly and even the car they used was positioned to quickly resolve any action (referring to a quick escape from the place)," said Carrion.

When asked about possible charges against the security officer, Carrión said "The officer's action seems to be self-defense and it is safeguarding the integrity of a person, also a patrimonial asset of that person and his own life. The officer actions were according to his profession.”

Article 28 of the Criminal Code of Costa Rica states that ‘Legitimate Defense’ is valid when there is an illegal aggression and reasonable need for defensive action used to repel or prevent any aggression.

The investigators have carried out analyzes of the order of events as follow:

First a man and a woman (their names are not to be published for witness protection), arrive at the bank in a car. The woman gets out of the car carrying the money in a bag and goes toward the bank. Apparently the money was the result of the company operations.

At that point, Carlos Quesada, who was riding a motorcycle and wearing a helmet, arrives. When he saw the woman he made the first attempt to steal the money. He hit the woman on her head making her fall to the ground.