A teenage footballer has been found dead after ‘shooting himself in the chest’ on a hunting trip.
Matías Exequiel Soto, 19, was discovered lying on the ground in a remote rural area with no signs of life.
His friend, also 19, was standing nearby and told officers the victim had accidentally shot himself.
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He claimed the footballer managed to stagger several metres after being hit before collapsing to the ground.
Officers arrived to find the young player dead on the ground, while his companion remained at the scene.
The friend, named in local reports as Leonardo Germán García, has been detained as investigators examine his account and the exact circumstances of the shooting.
The case has been provisionally listed as suspected homicide while forensic experts examine the scene and weapon.
Matías played for Club Comercio Plaza in the Presidencia de la Plaza area of Chaco Province in Argentina.
The shooting took place near the El Sol Estate while the pair was hunting on Saturday afternoon (10 Oct), as reported by Need To Know.
A club spokesperson said: “Today we have to say goodbye to a much-loved person and sportsman.
“Matías wore and defended our colours with passion, commitment and camaraderie, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who shared the pitch and dressing room with him.”
The investigation, led by the No. 3 Prosecutor’s Office in Resistencia under Dr Rosana Soto, is still under way as specialists carry out tests to establish how the fatal shot was fired.
No results have yet confirmed the friend’s claim that Matías shot himself by accident.
Family, teammates and local residents have been left in shock by the death of the promising young player.
The investigation continues.
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