Colombian Senator Dies Weeks After Being Shot

- A presidential aspirant died on Monday in Colombian following gun shot wounds at a political rally in June, this year.  

Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, 39, died after several surgeries in hospital, his family confirmed.

Uribe was campaigning for the Democratic Center Party’s presidential nomination when a 15 - year-old gunman shot him twice in the head and once in the leg on June 7 in Bogotá. The attacker escaped but was later shot, wounded, and arrested.

His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, said in a statement that she is praying for strength to continue and care for their two children.

Thousands of people held vigils and prayed for the senator during his critical condition.

After his death, the Colombian Bishops’ Conference expressed deep sorrow and shared their sympathy with his family. “We express our solidarity with his entire family and, in Christian hope, we commend them to the Lord that He may console them,” the Bishops said.

They also urged the authorities to continue investigating the assassination thoroughly. “We call on Colombians to ‘not let hope be stolen from us’ and to react peacefully, defending the principles and values that constitute us as a nation,” they added.

The Bishops reminded the nation to uphold its motto of “Liberty and Order,” emphasizing that freedom and respect are necessary for the full development of all Colombians.

Former President Álvaro Uribe, who is not related to the senator, said, “They have killed hope. May Miguel’s struggle be a beacon, which illuminates Colombia’s path.”

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Years earlier, Miguel’s mother, Diana Turbay, a journalist, was kidnapped by Pablo Escobar’s gunmen and died during a police rescue attempt. Miguel often said her courage inspired his work for Colombia’s future.

The motive behind the assassination is still unclear. The suspect and several others have been arrested and are under investigation.