Venezuela investigating death of protester as unrest rises

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan authorities are investigating the shooting death of a 21-year-old man during a protest over food as the South American nation’s economic disarray fuels more unrest.

Luis Fuentes died after being shot in the leg as national guard troops broke up a protest on a highway in Sucre state. Another dozen people were injured.

The attorney general said in a statement Sunday that it is investigating security forces’ actions. The government’s ombudsman condemned the use of firearms to break up protests after a video circulated on social media showing the national guard firing into the crowd.

Fuentes is the third Venezuelan protester to be killed in a week as social tensions boil over.

According to non-profit Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict, there were 52 reports of looting in May alone.