Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbey Passes Away Following Shooting
Colombian Sen. Miguel Uribe Turbey tragically died on Monday after being shot by a minor during a campaign rally in Bogota.
The senator, aged 39, succumbed after hours of deteriorating health, following a challenging two-month fight for survival in a healthcare facility in Colombia.
Uribe was affiliated with the Conservative Center for Democracy, which is led by former President Alvaro Uribe Veles, who is not related. He secured a Senate seat in 2022 and had recently begun campaigning for the presidential election in 2026.
As the grandson of former Colombian president Julio Sáser Turbey, Miguel had a notable political lineage. His mother, Diana Turbey, was a journalist and the daughter of a president. She was tragically killed in a failed rescue operation back in 1991, ordered by the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar.
The late senator was critical of the long-serving leftist President Gustavo Petro. Uribe had previously publicly opposed Petro, who, interestingly, had been elected mayor of Bogotá shortly after Uribe secured a council position at the age of 25. Interestingly, Uribe garnered the highest votes among senators in the 2022 election.
On June 7, during his rally in Bogota, Uribe was shot three times by boys aged 14 to 15, sustaining two gunshot wounds to his head and one to his leg. He was promptly rushed to the ICU at the Santa Fe Foundation in Bogota, where he battled for his life until his passing on Monday.
The Santa Fe Foundation reported on Saturday that Uribe’s condition had worsened over the weekend due to bleeding in the central nervous system, leading to emergency neurosurgical interventions. His family was notified after he passed away at 1:56 AM local time.
In a heartfelt message, one loved one expressed, “You will always be the love of my life. Thank you for being such a wonderful father. I hope God helps me learn how to live without you.” They added, “Rest in peace, my love. I will take care of our children.”
The tragic news of Uribe’s death elicited a response from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who expressed condolences and solidarity with Uribe’s family and the Colombian people, demanding justice for those responsible.
As for President Gustavo Petro, he did not issue any public remarks regarding Uribe’s death during a press event.
The minor who shot Uribe has been charged with attempted murder and illegal possession of weapons. Investigations have suggested that the FARC guerrilla group was involved in the assassination plot against Uribe.
Reports indicate that FARC commander Jose Ardinevar “Zarco Ardinevar” Sierra Sabogar orchestrated the attack from Venezuela, collaborating with local criminal gangs. Notably, Sierra Sabogar was killed shortly afterward in an incident involving explosives.
Before Senator Uribe’s unfortunate passing, his wife and other party members had organized a rosary to pray for him and for peace in Colombia.
A 17-year-old suspect from Venezuela surrendered to Colombian authorities and has offered significant information about the ongoing investigations. This minor, who had previously been approached to assist in shooting Uribe, reportedly distanced themselves from the plot.
