UPDATE: Daily tabloid Diario Extra reports that the 46-year old expat resisted the carjacking and was shot during a struggle that occurred outside the vehicle.

An expat from the United States by the last name of Morehead sustained a gunshot wound and was rushed to the hospital after an apparent carjacking in Costa Rica.  According to a news report published by online news daily Costa Rica Hoy, the male victim was returning to his home at night when he was shot.

 

On Thursday night, agents from the Office of Judicial Investigations (Spanish initials: OIJ) responded to a report of a vehicle robbery in the affluent community of Santa Ana, which is home to many expats from North America and Europe. According to a preliminary report of the investigation, the shooting occurred in the vicinity of the Pozos district; Mr. Morehead was about to park his vehicle at his home around 8:00 pm when he was suddenly approached by a suspect who had been hiding in the shadows.

 

The suspect, who was armed with a handgun, shot at the driver’s side of the vehicle before ordering Mr. Morehead to exit the car. While still at gunpoint, the victim realized he had been shot on his left flank. The suspect then took control of the vehicle and sped off into the night towards downtown San Jose.

 

OIJ agents from the Vehicle Robbery Investigations unit are currently examining the facts and looking into the backgrounds of the victim’s associates since the perpetrator was apparently familiar with Mr. Morehead’s home address and with his commuting schedule.

 

The agents assigned to this case are also looking into any similarities to the shooting of another US expat earlier this year, which took place in nearby Escazu. On that incident, the victim was shot multiple times by two men riding a motorcycle, although nothing seemed to have been stolen.