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Colombian Senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe, who was shot in the head during a campaign event two months ago, passed away early Monday at age 39, according to the hospital treating him. Uribe, from a well-known political family and a member of the right-wing opposition, was shot in Bogotá on June 7 while speaking to secure his party’s nomination for the 2026 elections.
His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, announced his death on social media, writing, “I pray that God guides me through living without you. Rest in peace, my love. I will care for our children.” The attack marked the most severe political violence in Colombia in over 20 years and drew comparisons to the tumultuous 1980s and 1990s when four presidential candidates were assassinated in separate cartel-related attacks.
President Gustavo Petro shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the investigation needs to be thorough, with authorities and international experts providing updates when appropriate. “Every Colombian life lost is a defeat for our nation and for life itself,” he stated.
The Santa Fe Foundation hospital in Bogotá, where Uribe received treatment and underwent multiple surgeries, reported over the weekend that his condition had worsened due to a brain hemorrhage. Early Monday, they confirmed his passing at 1:56 a.m. local time.
Former President Álvaro Uribe, who leads the Democratic Center party and is not related to the senator, wrote on X that “evil destroys everything; they have taken hope.” He also expressed hope that Miguel’s fight would serve as a guiding light for Colombia’s future, even as he faces his own legal issues—recently sentenced to 12 years of house arrest for abuse of process and bribery.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his sorrow on X, stating, “The United States stands with his family and the Colombian people in mourning and demanding justice.”
Six individuals have been detained in connection with the shooting, including two men accused of planning the attack in Medellín. A 15-year-old suspect, who was arrested within hours, claimed he was hired by a local drug dealer, a statement confirmed by a video of his arrest obtained by Reuters. Authorities are still searching for those behind the conspiracy.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged Monday that authorities would bring those responsible to justice, emphasizing that violence will not silence Colombia’s political voices. The Ministry of Defense has offered a reward of roughly $740,000 for information leading to the suspects’ arrest, with assistance from the U.S., Britain, and the United Arab Emirates.
The tragedy also echoes a dark chapter in Uribe’s family history: his mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was murdered in 1991 during a failed rescue mission after her kidnapping by the Medellín Cartel, led by Pablo Escobar.
Uribe experienced a swift rise in politics, serving as a city councilor in Bogotá at age 25 and later becoming a prominent critic of leftist President Gustavo Petro’s administration. On the day he was shot, he released videos calling for respect for the separation of powers and opposing Petro’s proposed labor reform referendum. He also criticized the president’s restrictions on oil exploration, advocating for policies to attract investment and secure legal stability for companies.
In his early political career, Uribe challenged Bogotá’s mayor, Petro, over waste management and social programs. In the 2022 legislative contest, he headed the Democratic Center’s Senate list. Since his shooting, his Senate seat has been draped with the Colombian flag in his honor.
He was the grandson of Julio César Turbay, Colombia’s president from 1978 to 1982, and Rodrigo Uribe Echavarría, a past leader of the Liberal Party who supported Virgilio Barco’s victorious 1986 presidential campaign. Uribe is survived by his wife, son, stepdaughters, father, and sister.
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