Víctor Hugo Vega Rivera died that day at 4:15 hours, on a public street in Arica, due to craniocerebral trauma caused by a bullet, as recorded in the Medical Death Certificate signed by the forensic pathologist.

According to the findings established in the first-instance ruling of the court that investigated the circumstances of his death, on February 24, 1990, in the early morning, at the intersection of Manuel Rodríguez and Velásquez streets, Víctor Vega crossed paths with a man dressed in civilian clothes who, without any provocation, argument, or fight, and in the presence of eyewitnesses, drew a firearm, shot him in the head at close range, and immediately fled the scene.

The perpetrator of the shooting turned out to be an Ejército Corporal belonging to the 9th Armored Cavalry Regiment, who, after firing the shot, returned to the military unit where he served and remained silent about what had happened for several days.

One week later, through a statement, the Ejército informed the public of his identity and his surrender to the Ordinary Justice system.

For these acts, the Corporal was sentenced to five years of minor imprisonment in its maximum degree as the perpetrator of the crime of simple homicide. However, in 1992, the Arica Court of Appeals reduced the sentence to 100 days of minor imprisonment in its minimum degree and granted him a suspended sentence, allowing him to serve it in freedom.

Considering the evidence gathered by this Corporation, the Superior Council reached the conviction that the death of Víctor Hugo Vega Rivera was due to the abuse of power committed by an agent of the State, who acted outside the scope of his duties, fled the scene without providing aid after having wounded him, and concealed his responsibility from his hierarchical superiors.

Despite this, and despite his total responsibility and subsequent actions having been established, he was sanctioned with a penalty that bears no relation to the gravity of the act of taking a person's life under the conditions in which he did so, which, in the judgment of the Superior Council, amounts to leaving the crime unpunished.

For this reason, it declared Víctor Hugo Vega Rivera a victim of human rights violations.