Hunter Faces Charges After Reported Shooting Incident in Haría, Lanzarote
Residents and visitors in the north of Lanzarote are being reminded of the importance of hunting safety after a reported shooting incident in the Haría area left a local resident in the line of fire.
According to a report published on 28 September 2026, the incident happened at around 11:30am on Sunday in the Diseminado de Haría, in the area between Haría and Punta Mujeres. The report says a resident heard shots close to his home and saw a hunter carrying a long firearm and accompanied by several dogs.
The resident reportedly approached the hunter and warned him that he was in a safety zone and that the firearm should be open or unloaded. The account states that the hunter continued walking through the area.
A short time later, a group of partridges reportedly took flight. According to the Guardia Civil report described by Diario de Lanzarote, the hunter fired twice without warning while the resident was in the line of fire. No one was hit.
Police response in Haría
The incident was reported to the emergency services and both the Policía Local and the Guardia Civil's environmental protection unit, SEPRONA, attended the scene. The hunter was arrested and the resident and witnesses were identified before statements were taken.
The case was referred to the court and, according to the latest report available at the time of writing on 29 September 2026, a fast-track hearing was due to take place on Tuesday. No court outcome had been reported in the sources checked before publication of this article.
It is important to stress that the allegations remain allegations unless and until established by a court.
What are the hunting safety rules in Lanzarote?
The incident has also highlighted an important point for anyone living in or visiting rural Lanzarote: Spanish and Canary Islands hunting regulations include specific safety zones where special precautions apply.
Under the Canary Islands Hunting Law, safety zones include public roads and paths, population centres, inhabited areas and their surroundings, as well as other places where people may gather. The law also prohibits hunting with firearms in these zones and prohibits firing in the direction of a safety zone.
For inhabited buildings and isolated dwellings, the law establishes a 100-metre safety strip in all directions from the last habitable buildings or installations when hunting with firearms.
This is particularly relevant in rural parts of Lanzarote, where walking routes, farm properties, homes and hunting areas can sometimes be close together.
What does this mean for Lanzarote?
For most holidaymakers staying in resorts such as Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise or Arrecife, this type of rural hunting incident is unlikely to affect normal holiday plans.
Dog owners and families exploring the countryside should also take particular care to stay on recognised routes and respect any signs or temporary restrictions.
Lanzarote's countryside is shared by residents, farmers, walkers, dog owners, wildlife and those who take part in regulated hunting. The rules are designed to reduce the risk of accidents and protect people as well as property.
The Haría incident is therefore a reminder that firearms and populated areas require particular caution. The fact that nobody was injured does not remove the seriousness of a reported shooting in which a person was allegedly in the line of fire.
For anyone who witnesses an immediate danger involving a firearm in Lanzarote, contacting 112 is the appropriate emergency response rather than confronting the person involved.
The situation will now be dealt with through the judicial process, and any further developments will depend on the outcome of that process.
