A 54-year-old man has been arrested in Santa Cruz Michapa, Cuscatlán, for allegedly attacking a neighbor with a machete following a dispute over cattle trespassing. The Policía Nacional Civil (PNC) identified the suspect as José Daniel Morataya Vásquez, who is accused of intercepting the victim as he walked to make purchases and striking him multiple times, causing severe wounds to his legs.
The victim was rushed to a hospital, while police tracked down Morataya and recovered the weapon. According to investigators, the two men had been involved in ongoing neighborly arguments because the victim’s cattle had been entering Morataya’s property.
Morataya has been handed over to the Fiscalía General de la República on charges of injury, but authorities noted the charge could be upgraded to attempted murder based on further evidence. The incident underscores how unresolved rural disputes can escalate into violent confrontations.
Article and image source: elsalvadortimes.com
