Officers with Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigate Police (OIJ) along with SWAT officers from the Special Tactical Response Service (SERT) conducted a series of raids beginning shortly after 10 a.m. on Friday, making five arrests in the murder of a 21-year-old man who was attacked by a mob of at least 20 people outside the popular Lizard Lounge bar in Playas del Coco, Guanacaste on Saturday.

Alejo Leiva Lachner was killed on Saturday, March 26^th after being brutally attacked by at least 20 individuals on the main commercial street of Playas del Coco. Leiva Lachner was brutally beaten by a large group of men before being stabbed in the chest, after having a dispute with a local unlicensed taxi driver. He died as a result of the stab wound, and the killing sparked national outcry.

Leiva Lachner, a resident of Escazu, in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, was on vacation for the Holy Week holiday.

The dispute began after the deceased allegedly hit the driver’s vehicle with his fist or a small object after the driver apparently backed into a pedestrian and companion of Leiva’s while backing his vehicle out of the parking area in front of the bar.

The driver later returned accompanied by at least 20 other men who subsequently beat and stabbed Leiva in the middle of the street in the presence of many witnesses and onlookers, many of whom were on vacation for the Holy Week holidays.

One of the suspects arrested is reportedly the taxi driver.

Three other suspects were reportedly able to flee during the raids, and law enforcement officials are combing the area in pursuit of the suspects.