Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Dies Weeks After Campaign Shooting

Colombian senator Miguel Uribe, a right-wing presidential hopeful, has died from injuries suffered during a campaign rally shooting in Bogota. The 39-year-old had been fighting for his life since June 7, 2025, when a gunman opened fire. His family confirmed the news after he endured multiple surgeries without recovery.

Family and Political Tributes

Uribe’s wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, shared her grief on social media, writing:
“Rest in peace, love of my life. I will take care of our children.”

Vice President Francia Márquez expressed deep sorrow, calling it “a sad day for the country” and urging Colombians to reject violence. She emphasized that “democracy is built with respect and dialogue, not with bullets or blood.”

The Shooting and Arrests

Police captured a 15-year-old suspect at the scene with a 9mm Glock-style handgun. Prosecutors charged him with attempted murder, and he pleaded not guilty on June 10. Authorities later detained five additional suspects linked to the attack.

President Gustavo Petro blamed an international crime network for the assassination, though he provided no evidence. In response, the government increased security measures for political leaders nationwide.

Colombia’s Violent Political Legacy

The killing evokes memories of the 1980s and 1990s, when drug cartels and paramilitary death squads murdered four presidential candidates. Uribe’s death also adds to his family’s history of political tragedy.

His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, died in 1991 during a failed rescue mission after being kidnapped by Pablo Escobar’s Medellin cartel. His maternal grandfather, Julio César Turbay, served as Colombia’s president from 1978 to 1982. His paternal grandfather, Rodrigo Uribe Echavarría, once led the Liberal Party.

A Swift Political Rise

Uribe entered politics at 25 as a Bogota city councilor. At 30, he became the youngest city government secretary in the capital’s history. He resigned in 2018 to run for mayor of Bogota but lost.

Elected to the Senate in 2022 under the slogan “Colombia First”, Uribe became a strong critic of President Petro’s peace strategy. Former President Álvaro Uribe, unrelated to him, called Miguel Uribe “a hope for the homeland.”

Legacy and Impact

He leaves behind his wife, a young son, and three teenage stepdaughters. His assassination has reignited debate over political violence and the security of public officials in Colombia.

SOURCE: Al Jazeera