Soldier found dead at Quinta de Olivos presidential residence

An Argentine Army soldier was found dead early Tuesday at an internal security post inside the Quinta de Olivos presidential residence, where President Javier Milei resides.

The victim was identified as Rodrigo Gómez, 21, who was assigned to security duties at the residence in the Vicente López district on the northern outskirts of Buenos Aires.

Government officials said Gómez was discovered in the early hours of the morning by a fellow soldier while on duty at one of the internal posts within the compound. Emergency protocols were immediately activated and medical personnel were called to the scene, where they confirmed the soldier had died.

According to government sources quoted in local outlets, Gómez died after shooting himself with his assigned service weapon. Authorities suspect he took his own life. 

Government officials said the death was discovered early on Tuesday when a fellow soldier found him unresponsive at one of the internal posts. Emergency protocols were activated and medical teams confirmed his death at the scene. 

Local media outlets, including Perfil and TN, reported that Gómez had suffered a gunshot wound to the head and that his service weapon was found at the scene. Investigators are treating suicide as the leading hypothesis, although judicial authorities have emphasised that the cause of death has not yet been formally established.

The case is being handled by Federal Judge Sandra Arroyo Salgado. Argentina’s federal police is assisting in the investigation, and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the precise cause and manner of death.

According to reporting by several local outlets, a handwritten note was found near the body in which the soldier referred to personal difficulties and financial concerns, and said goodbye to family members and colleagues. Investigators have not released its contents officially.

The Casa Rosada confirmed in a brief statement that Gómez was an Army soldier assigned to security tasks at the presidential residence at the time of his death and said it was cooperating fully with the judicial investigation.

– TIMES/NA/PERFIL