The last time there was an attempt on Louis' life was three years ago. It was February 23, 1948, one week before Hero's Day. He was scheduled to speak at an arts and cultural festival in Sajonia, in the northwest district of Asunción. Rumors spread throughout the country about the government's plan to seize land. Farmers, landlords, and workers protested. Hundreds of protesters were arrested, and seven people were killed, including two police officers. Instead of honoring the bravery of Paraguay's army and first military leader, Marshal Francisco Solano Lopez, Louis declared martial law.
He was scheduled to meet with his police commander to discuss the situation but couldn't because of a sudden case of diarrhea. Louis sent two generals on his behalf; they never made it. The limo they rode in – the one that Louis was supposed to be in – was hit with a rocket launcher. Also killed in the attack was the driver and two women who were walking alongside of the road. When word got back to Louis, he used every resource to locate the men responsible.
He heard whispers that Alfonzo Gomez had a hand in the attempt but didn't have proof. With the help of intelligence, he received from spies he had strategically placed throughout Asunción, Louis learned the name of one of the men involved: Domingo Eberado.
Mr. Eberado and his family – a wife, a sixteen-year old son, and two daughters, eleven and seven respectively - were found hiding in the small neighborhood of Banco San Miguel. They immediately were brought to trial (Louis was the judge and the jury) and found guilty of treason. The entire family was brought before a firing squad and killed. Word spread quickly and in a matter of hours the demonstrations were squashed.
Louis' response to the current assassination attempt was slightly different. He kept quiet and paid attention. A master at studying people's behavior, he watched for the slightest change in how those closest to him chewed their food, spoke, and laughed. His silence would make the people responsible even more nervous and that much easier for him to identify.
This time he didn't have to worry about landlords, workers or farmers. They had no knowledge that his flight was delayed because of weather and that he would be arriving a day later than planned. It wasn't their responsibility to make sure the limo that arrived to transport him to Asunción was bulletproof.
Only four people knew this.