A wave of fatal shootouts between Dominican law enforcement and suspected criminals has pushed the National Police to the center of fierce public discourse in recent days, with eight people killed in encounters with the Central Directorate of Investigation (DICRIM) patrols over the past week. All of the deceased were actively wanted by authorities on charges ranging from armed robbery and murder to motor vehicle theft, with most tied to a high-profile killing of a well-known urban artist.
The incident that has captured the most public and social media attention is the death of Michael Junior Rodríguez Peguero, widely known by his alias “Michael Peluche.” Peluche was identified by authorities as a prime suspect in the killing of Jesús Alexis Delgado Ortiz, the urban artist who performed under the stage name “Diddy Glow.” He was shot by DICRIM officers on September 16 during a joint operation, and footage and details of the incident spread rapidly across social platforms shortly after his death. A second suspect, only identified by the alias “Enger,” was killed alongside Peluche.
Both men were accused of involvement in a string of violent crimes including multiple robberies, street muggings, and a mass shooting in the Los Coquitos neighborhood of Boca Chica that left two people dead and five others injured—Diddy Glow among the fatalities. After sustaining multiple gunshot wounds during the confrontation, the pair were rushed to Dr. Ney Arias Lora Hospital, where they were pronounced dead despite emergency medical intervention.
Three days later, on September 19, National Police confirmed two more deaths linked to the same Boca Chica investigation: 19-year-old Wender Alcántara, who used the aliases “El Compa” and “La Muerte,” and Deivi Rosado Durán, known as “El Gordo” or “El Fantasma de Guindo.” Authorities confirmed Durán had ties to the criminal organization “Los Fantasmas,” which officials hold responsible for the Boca Chica shooting, and that he was accused of supplying firearms to the group for the attack.
Two additional suspects tied to broader regional criminal activity were also killed in separate police operations this week. Jordin Antonio Ogando, alias “Jordin” or “El Maldito,” and 33-year-old Dilson Humberto Reynoso Cruz, known as “Mandrake” or “El Mello,” were killed in confrontations with DICRIM. Reynoso Cruz had been linked to a string of violent incidents across Santiago dating back to 2021, including armed robberies, multiple homicides and shootings. One of the most high-profile killings attributed to him was the 2021 shooting death of a 15-year-old teenager on Circunvalación Avenue in Santiago’s Nibaje sector.
Separately, on September 17, 26-year-old Willi David Gómez Batista—alias “Willy Piñé”—was killed in a shootout with DICRIM officers in Barahona’s Palmarito neighborhood. Court and police records show Piñé had been arrested multiple times prior to the confrontation, and faced active warrants on charges of assault, motorcycle theft, threats, unlawful discharge of a firearm and defamation. He was transported to Dr. Jaime Mota University Hospital after being wounded, where he later died.
The eighth fatality, 22-year-old Jhoan Omar Leonardo Rodríguez, known as “Fugao,” was killed during a confrontation on the Pimentel-Nagua highway. DICRIM agents from Cotuí were conducting routine patrol operations when they spotted Rodríguez, who was wanted on two active arrest warrants for a series of criminal offenses. According to official police accounts, Rodríguez opened fire on the patrol as soon as he recognized the officers, forcing law enforcement to return fire in self-defense. Rodríguez sustained multiple bullet wounds and died while receiving treatment at San Francisco de Macorís Regional Hospital.
Across all eight confrontations, official police reports confirm that no law enforcement officers suffered injuries, with all casualties confined to the suspects involved in the encounters. The string of deaths has ignited broad public debate over police use of force and investigative practices in the country, with the high-profile tie to the killing of beloved urban artist Diddy Glow amplifying public scrutiny of the operations.