Fourth suspect arrested in Colombia's Uribe assassination attempt
3 Min Read
Colombian prosecutors have arrested a fourth suspect in the attempted assassination of presidential candidate Miguel Uribe, who remains in critical condition following the June 7 shooting.
-
Police stand guard outside the Medicentro hospital where Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is being treated after he was shot during a campaign rally in Bogota, Colombia, June 7, 2025. (AP)
Colombian prosecutors announced the arrest of a fourth suspect connected to the assassination attempt on presidential candidate Miguel Uribe, which occurred during a campaign event on June 7. He remains in critical condition following the violent attack.
A conservative senator affiliated with the Democratic Center party, Uribe was shot twice in the head and once in the leg by a 15-year-old alleged hitman while delivering a speech. He underwent emergency surgery to stop internal bleeding, and doctors on Monday described his condition as "extremely critical."
The senator's wife told interviewers he was "fighting for his life," expressing gratitude for the support his family was shown following the attack.
#Bogotá l En una nueva aparición pública Claudia Tarazona, la esposa del senador Miguel Uribe, agradeció la solidaridad recibida tras el atentado al precandidato presidencial que lo tiene el estado crítico y con pronóstico reservado. pic.twitter.com/wf33qffjRX
— Metropolitano Noticias (@metropolitano_X) June 19, 2025
Details of June 7 shooting
The attack took place during a public campaign event, highlighting the growing concerns over political violence in Colombia. The teenage gunman reportedly acted as part of a contract killing network. According to Semana magazine, he told investigators he was offered more than $4,800 to carry out the shooting.
After carrying out the attack, the assailant shouted, "I did it for money for my family." The gun used in the attack was found to have been illegally purchased in Arizona in 2020, as reported by The Guardian.
Authorities identified the fourth suspect using surveillance footage from the scene. While prosecutors did not disclose the individual’s role, the suspect is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, where charges will be determined.
Three suspects were previously apprehended: the alleged shooter, the driver who transported him, and the person who supplied the weapon. All face charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms. A fifth suspect remains at large.
Uribe's lawyer, Victor Mosquera, stated that the investigation has uncovered a "structured organization" with a "history of attacks on right-wing leaders."
Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro called for an investigation, citing suspicions after Uribe's security team was reduced from seven members to three the day of the shooting.
Uribe declared his candidacy for the Colombian 2026 election in October last year. He is the son of renowned journalist Diana Turbay, who was kidnapped in 1990 by forces linked to cartel boss Pablo Escobar and died during a failed rescue attempt, and the grandson of former Colombian President Julio Cesar Turbay, who served from 1978 to 1982.
Read more: Colombian president reveals drug cartels plan to assassinate him
