The three people in charge of the operation were Guardia Civil Lieutenant-Colonel Antonio Tejero, Major Ricardo Sáenz de Ynestrillas Martínez, and another colonel, whose name has not been revealed.
On 8 May 1980, the two main suspects, Tejero and Ynestrillas Martínez, were court-martialled, and on their way, they were cheered by crowds with nationalist flags, but also insulted, which showed the division of Spain at that time.
In 1986 Ynestrillas Martínez was assassinated by Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) along with Lieutenant-Colonel of the Infantry Carlos Vesteiro Pérez, and their driver Private Francisco Casillas.
[1] Lieutenant-Colonel Tejero attempted another coup on 23 February 1981, in the middle of the voting by the deputies for the new Prime minister.
He took over the Cabinet and lower house of Parliament with 200 men, holding 350 deputies hostage and announcing the constitution of a military junta.