A leading Colombian presidential hopeful is fighting for his life after being shot twice in the head during a campaign event in Bogotá. The 39-year-old senator, Miguel Uribe, underwent emergency surgery Saturday night. Doctors say he remains in critical condition at Santa Fe Clinic, with his chances still uncertain.
The attack stunned a country that hoped the dark days of political violence and drug cartel brutality were behind it. Across Colombia, thousands gathered on Sunday to light candles, pray, and express their sorrow and anger over the shocking incident.
“Our hearts are broken. Colombia is hurting,” said Carolina Gomez, a local businesswoman who joined the vigil outside the hospital. The crowd echoed messages of support, chanting, “Stay strong, Miguel” and “We stand with you.”
Uribe’s wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support. “He’s fighting with all his strength,” she said. The senator was also wounded in the leg during the attack.
Though security managed to apprehend the teenage gunman at the scene, the reasons behind the shooting remain unclear. Uribe has been an outspoken critic of the current leftist government, guerrilla factions controlling parts of the country, and powerful drug cartels.
Authorities have pledged to throw every resource—police, military, and intelligence—into investigating the motive and uncovering anyone who might have orchestrated the attack.
While there were no specific threats against Uribe beforehand, like many public figures, he had personal security close by.
Uribe’s family history is deeply intertwined with Colombia’s turbulent past. He is the grandson of former president Julio Cesar Turbay, whose term in the late 1970s and early 1980s was marked by rising guerrilla conflicts and the emergence of major drug cartels. More poignantly, he is the son of Diana Turbay, a respected journalist who tragically died after being kidnapped by the notorious Pablo Escobar—a loss that shook the nation.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez said a team of about 100 investigators is working to unravel what led to the shooting. He also announced a reward equivalent to roughly $725,000 for information leading to those responsible.
The alleged shooter, believed to be about 15 years old, was injured during the confrontation and is receiving medical care. Two others—a man and a woman—were also hurt. Police seized a Glock-style pistol from the scene.
The attack drew widespread condemnation across Colombia’s political landscape. President Gustavo Petro described it as “an assault not only on Miguel Uribe but also on democracy, free expression, and political engagement in Colombia.”
Voices from abroad echoed the outcry. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it “a direct threat to democracy,” while also criticizing what he described as “violent rhetoric” from President Petro’s administration, suggesting it may have contributed to the climate that led to the shooting.
Rubio urged the government to tone down inflammatory language and to better protect public officials moving forward.
