Assailants armed with bullet-proof jackets and a M-16 rifle as well as other guns assaulted armed guards of the Remesas Vimenca (Western Union agents) remittances company who were on their way to deliver more than RD$3 million in cash to offices in Santiago and Puerto Plata. The four guards were in a white Isuzu pick-up truck that was intercepted at around 6 am at the intersection of Abraham Lincoln Avenue and Jacinto Mañón streets, across from St. Thomas School and the Codetel headquarters. The three masked assailants, using anti-bullet jackets reportedly drove up in a grey car with official license plate, and intercepted the security guards pick-up quickly firing at the guards killing two and injuring two. They rapidly snatched bags containing RD$1.7 million and US$72,000. The deceased were former military Benjamín Cuello, 56, and Luis Francisco Paulino. Two two injured are retired military 30-year old Christian Montero and 63-year old Ramón Canela. They are interned in the intensive care unit of the military hospital.
