A 71-year-old retired officer from the Argentine Federal Police (PFA) defended himself with gunfire during a robbery attempt in Gerli, Argentina, on Wednesday. The incident unfolded in broad daylight as the man and his partner were returning home after withdrawing money from a currency exchange.

Security footage captured the entire sequence, showing the moment two assailants arrived at the couple’s residence and the confrontation that followed. The attackers, armed with what turned out to be a metal replica of a 9mm handgun, demanded valuables. The retired officer and his partner resisted, leading to a physical struggle in which the woman was pushed to the ground, followed by the man.

Despite his age, the ex-PFA officer managed to draw his own firearm—a Bersa Thunder .22 caliber pistol—and fired multiple shots at one of the assailants, who collapsed on the street. The second attacker fled before police arrived.

Authorities from the 6th Police Station of Avellaneda and the Buenos Aires Provincial Police responded to the scene at the intersection of Casacuberta and Córdoba streets. They found the deceased attacker lying face down on the asphalt, with the replica weapon nearby.

The case is now under investigation by the prosecutor from the Avellaneda Unit Fiscal de Instrucción (UFI) No. 1, identified as Sadauskas, who secured the area and ordered forensic experts to the scene. The retired officer has given a statement recounting the events.

This incident highlights the complex realities of urban security in Argentina, where citizens sometimes resort to self-defense amid rising crime concerns. It also raises questions about access to firearms and the role of law enforcement veterans in community safety.