Story By: Juan Mayes, Sub-Editor: Joana Mihajlovska, Agency: Newsflash
This legal journalist has died of several gunshot wounds he sustained during a vicious attack in a Colombian city two days before.
Andres Felipe Guevara, 27, died in a hospital in the city of Cali in the Colombian department of Valle del Cauca on 23rd December.
His death came two days after he was targeted by hitmen in the neighbourhood of Mariano Ramos in Cali on 21st December.
Local sources said he was shot several times while with his friend Jorge Andres Arbelaez Lopez, 37, at around 9pm.
There are conflicting reports as to the number of gunshots wounds Guevara suffered in different parts of his body with some sources reporting four while others, such as Infobae, said five. (https://bit.ly/3aMQ88J)
The local authorities offered a COP 20 million (GBP 4,221) reward for any information leading to the arrest of the suspect the day after the shooting took place, but have since increased to COP 50 million (GBP 10,554).
One of the images shows a portrait of the unnamed suspect which was released by the police shortly after Guevara’s death.
Infobae said members from the prosecution believe the apparent assassination was planned several days in advance, adding that a Colombian journalist claimed Guevara was being threatened for a report he did about local gangs.
The police do not currently suspect that Guevara’s profession as a journalist played a role in his death, however they do not rule out the possibility.
The NGO Foundation for the Freedom of Press (FLIP) made a statement saying the decision “worried” them as several of Guevara’s colleagues claimed he began receiving threats years ago, adding that he covered sensitive material such as assassination gangs.
Guevara worked for the Colombian newspaper Q’Hubo who issued a statement expressing their deep regret over his passing and said he left an “enormous hole” at the paper.
The incident was also condemned by the UN who called the freedom of press one of the pillars of democracy and urged for speedy and efficient action by the authorities.
The investigation is ongoing, however there have been no reports on any suspects or the motive behind the murder.
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