The alleged perpetrator of Isaac Trujillo, the young man from Gran Canaria who tragically passed away on Tuesday during the Carnival in Tenerife after being struck and hitting his head on the ground, is a 19-year-old engineering student, also from Gran Canaria. He faces charges of Homicide with potential intent. Following a court appearance on Thursday, the magistrate ordered his provisional detention without bail.
Later that afternoon, the family of the accused paid the €6,000 bail set by the judge to prevent him from being incarcerated until the trial. The head of the Instruction Court number 1 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife considered that the accused has no prior criminal record and has strong family ties in Gran Canaria, where he resides with his parents. However, as precautionary measures, the alleged murderer has had his passport revoked and is required to report to the court every fortnight.
The Prosecutor’s Office had requested provisional detention without bail but, alternatively, conditional provisional detention with bail of €6,000, which the judge ultimately concluded was appropriate given the negligible risk of fleeing.
A second individual was also arrested alongside the young man. This person, also from Gran Canaria but residing in Lanzarote, was reportedly part of Isaac’s group of friends and is under investigation for assault. Following his appearance in court, he has been released provisionally.
Isaac, along with six friends, arrived in Tenerife on Monday morning to enjoy the Carnival festivities. On Tuesday, the 30-year-old, who lived in Lanzarote but hailed from the San Juan neighbourhood, where he worked as a bouncer at a nightclub in Puerto del Carmen, was scheduled to return to Conejera Island by plane with his friends.
However, just half an hour before 5 AM, the situation took a tragic turn. Four of his companions left the party to head back to the apartment they had rented, while Isaac and two others chose to remain. Just thirty minutes later, the young man suffered a devastating punch that caused him to fall to the ground. The blow caused his head to impact the pavement; an almost fatal collision that resulted in severe head trauma. Isaac succumbed to his injuries in the ambulance while en route to the hospital after experiencing cardiorespiratory arrest.
Confrontation between the two groups
Investigators from the Homicide Unit of the Judicial Police Brigade are working to determine the motive behind the altercation. According to sources consulted by the province/Diario de Las Palmas, the conflict began when Isaac’s friends encountered those of the alleged perpetrator near the access points to the area. At one point, it is reported that the alleged murderer received a bottle to the head from Isaac’s group, which sparked the fatal brawl.
These sources also indicate that there is an ongoing investigation into whether the other arrested individual, who was with Isaac, was responsible for striking him with the bottle, leading to the assault charge against him. This individual had previously been noted for participating in another alleged fight.
Upon turning his back, the 19-year-old from Gran Canaria confronted Isaac and delivered the punch that ultimately proved to be fatal. The investigation remains active, with a further inquiry into the potential arrest of a third individual involved in the altercation.
The Police Intervention Unit (UIP), responsible for that area during the carnival, was the first on scene to break up the fight. They arrested both individuals: Isaac’s friend and the alleged perpetrator. The latter faces charges of an intentional crime, suggesting he acted with awareness of the risks posed by his actions, which could result in a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 15 years.
