LONDON • Autopsy results show that former Glasgow Rangers footballer Arnold Peralta had 18 gunshot wounds in what prosecutors have described as a "vicious attack".

The 26-year-old midfielder was killed on Thursday when two men on a motorcycle opened fire in Honduras in his hometown of La Ceiba, on the Caribbean coast.

Investigators in Honduras are analysing security camera footage from the Uniplaza shopping mall, where Peralta was ambushed as he parked his car.

Another footballer who was with him then was unharmed.

An autopsy on Friday showed that he died of "multiple gunshot wounds to the skull, face and chest". Investigators have recovered 11 9mm bullet casings from the scene.

Three murder investigation teams have been dispatched from the Honduran capital to assist the investigation, which has shocked a country all too accustomed to random acts of extreme violence.

No suspect has been detained, though police arrested a private security guard at the mall after he reportedly refused to hand over the security footage which may have captured the attack.

The motive for the attack is yet unknown but police have ruled out robbery after confirming that the player's belongings - and his Porsche SUV - were left at the scene.

Peralta is the 15th person linked to sports who has been murdered in Honduras since 2000, according to the newspaper Mas.

Peralta spent 18 months at Ibrox. He helped Rangers win the 2013-14 Scottish League One title, before leaving the club halfway through last season to join Olympia - one of Honduras' biggest clubs.

THE GUARDIAN