Manuel Norberto Mezquita Ramírez died that day on a public street from a gunshot wound to the cranium, as stated in his Death Certificate.

According to witness accounts, at approximately 21:00 hours that day, while Manuel Mezquita was driving his car along Calle Arrieta in the commune of Peñalolén, he was struck by several bullets in the head and back. The perpetrators were Ejército personnel who were stationed in buildings along that same thoroughfare.

Moments later, according to witnesses, a military truck removed Manuel Mezquita's body. After several days of searching, his family members managed to locate him at the Instituto Médico Legal, where he had been admitted as a "John Doe" (NN).

Witnesses added that the soldiers were intoxicated at the time of the shooting; an hour earlier, they had forced the owner of a nearby liquor store to give them alcohol.

A year later, his spouse was able to recover her husband's vehicle from a military unit in Peñalolén. His identification documents and those of the vehicle were never found.

Considering the evidence obtained in the investigation conducted by this Corporation, its Superior Council declared Manuel Norberto Mezquita Ramírez a victim of human rights violations by State agents who made irrational use of force.