A renowned folk singer from Bogotá, Colombia was murdered in a recent surge of violence plaguing the capital. The horrifying incident, which took place on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, was caught on CCTV. The footage shows the execution-style killing of the singer right outside the venue where he was scheduled to perform.
Local law enforcement agencies managed to obtain the video which shows the singer across the street from the venue, engrossed in his smartphone. Two individuals, later identified as accomplices, can be seen behind him, both engrossed in their own devices. The situation took a deadly turn when the singer put his phone away and gestured towards the venue.
The attacker, who had been hiding close by, quickly approached the unsuspecting artist and pulled out a firearm from his waistband. He then opened fire at close range. As gunshots echoed, bystanders scattered from the scene. The attacker then stood over the lifeless singer and seemingly fired additional shots before running away from the scene, firing his gun into the air as he escaped.
The identity or age of the victim has not been disclosed by the Bogotá Metropolitan Police. However, they did confirm that he was known for performing vallenato, a popular genre of folk music, at local venues across the city.
Rúben Pérez, a Police Major, updated the local media about the investigation. He stated that the authorities have identified the individuals behind the crime. According to Pérez, three people were involved in the crime, including the shooter. He expressed optimism about the progress of the investigation.
The crime situation in Bogotá is reflective of the larger challenges that Colombia faces in its fight against organized crime and violence. Despite the city’s progress in lowering its homicide rate, it still grapples with issues such as extortion, property crimes, and the influence of criminal networks.
In the first eight months of 2024, Bogota has witnessed at least 732 homicides – 46% of these were carried out by contract killers. A significant number of the victims were involved with organized crime, drug trafficking, extortion, or were part of criminal gangs.
The audacious nature of this attack, carried out in public with no apparent regard for potential surveillance or witnesses, underscores the boldness of criminals in Bogotá. It also raises concerns about the efficacy of existing security measures and the need for additional steps to safeguard the city’s residents and visitors.