Suspect arrested as family holds service for slain nine-year-old

Friends and family of slain nine-year-old Umma Aguilera have gathered for an intimate remembrance service for their beloved, ahead of her funeral and burial at the municipal cemetery of Lomas de Zamora.

Aguilera, the daughter of Eduardo Aguilera, a federal officer forming part of Security Minister Patricia Bullrich's security detail, was murdered by criminals in an attempted robbery in Lomas de Zamora on Monday.

The youngster was shot in the head and the hand in an attempted robbery in Lomas de Zamora. She and her family had been intercepted by a group of four criminals as they left their home to go out in their car. The perpetrators shot twice at the rear window, where Umma was sitting.

The nine-year-old girl was taken to the emergency room at the Gandulfo Hospital where she was stabilised and transferred by helicopter to Churruca, where she later died.

News of her death sparked shock and repulsion. Bullrich wrote about and confirmed the crime on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday afternoon.

“They murdered Umma. These criminals have no forgiveness,” she said. “We are going to look for them until we find them. We are with his parents, María Eugenia and Eduardo in this terrible moment and deep pain," she wrote.

President Javier Milei also commented on the incident, sending his condolences and sending a tough-on-crime message to the perpetrators.

“Criminals believe that they continue to live in an Argentina of impunity, but they are wrong,” he said. “We are going to find them, and we are going to make them pay for the life they took and for the family they destroyed.

Fingerprints collected by the Buenos Aires Police helped identify members of the gang that killed Umma when she was leaving in her car with her mother and father, who are both members of the Federal Police. They wore civilian clothes during the time of the crime.

According to police reports, there were four thieves involved in the robbery and murder, and one 22-year old suspect has been arrested.