A detained for the death of a child in Rosario, Argentina

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Police arrested a man suspected of killing an 11-year-old boy and neighbors ransacked his home on Monday, amid a wave of outrage over rising violence linked to the drugs in the Argentinian town of Rosario, where threats were made against soccer star Lionel Messi last week.

Máximo Jerez was killed Sunday morning when at least one gunman attacked a birthday party. Three other children, including a two-year-old, were injured.

Hours after Máximo was buried on Monday, residents of the northern neighborhood of Rosario, where the alleged shooter lived, broke into the suspect’s home.

Local news broadcasts showed live footage of people starting fires and throwing rocks at the home of the suspect, who at one point appeared with a gun and appeared to be firing.

The police arrested the man and then had to stop people from attacking him. After the suspect was transferred, neighbors destroyed his house and stole his belongings.

Antonia Jerez, the deceased child’s aunt, told local media that the neighbors had had enough and did not want an incident like Máximo’s death to happen again.

People destroyed at least three houses in the area which they believe were used by drug traffickers.

The event was a dramatic new turning point for a city where drug-related killings have become commonplace, with a level of violence unusual in Argentina.

Adrián Spelta, the prosecutor leading the investigation, told local media that the deadly shooting was linked to a turf fight between rival gangs.

Spelta noted that on other occasions, the presence of children on the scene would have deterred gang members from opening fire and that it appeared that old boundaries had been exceeded.

The situation in Rosario drew international attention on Thursday when gunmen threatened Messi in writing in a message they left on Thursday after shooting at a supermarket owned by the footballer’s in-laws. No one was injured in this morning attack.