Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay remains in critical condition following a shooting attack during a campaign event in Bogota on Saturday, June 7, 2025, with authorities arresting a 15-year-old suspect at the scene. The 39-year-old opposition politician, who was preparing for the 2026 presidential race, underwent emergency surgery for gunshot wounds to his head and left thigh.
The incident occurred during a campaign rally in a public park in the Fontibon neighborhood of Bogota on Saturday afternoon. According to his Democratic Centre party, armed subjects shot Uribe from behind while he was addressing supporters. Video footage circulated on social media showed the senator bleeding from his head as bystanders rushed to provide assistance.
The Attorney General’s Office confirmed that a minor under 15 years of age was arrested at the scene carrying a Glock 9mm pistol. Police later revealed the firearm had been purchased legally in Arizona in 2020. The suspect allegedly shouted that he committed the act for money for his family, though he has not yet been questioned due to injuries sustained during the attack.
Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan announced on Sunday that Uribe had successfully undergone initial surgical intervention but entered critical hours of recovery. The Santa Fe Foundation hospital confirmed procedures were performed on his head and left thigh, with the senator remaining in intensive care as doctors worked to stabilize his condition.
By Monday, medical officials reported that Uribe had shown little response to medical interventions. Medical director Adolfo Llinás Volpe described his condition as extremely serious. His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, wrote on social media that her husband was “fighting for his life” and later requested prayers, stating that Miguel needs a miracle.
President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack and vowed to identify those responsible, ordering a comprehensive investigation. In a televised address, Petro emphasized that no resource should be spared in finding the mastermind behind the shooting, whether in Colombia or abroad. The president noted the concerning trend of criminal organizations using minors to carry out violent acts.
The Colombian government offered a reward of approximately $730,000 for information leading to the identification and capture of those responsible for the attack. Authorities increased security protocols for all presidential candidates following the incident.
Uribe represents the opposition conservative Democratic Centre party, founded by former President Alvaro Uribe, though the two men are not related. The senator comes from a prominent political family marked by tragedy. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped in 1990 by an armed group under Pablo Escobar’s command and killed during a rescue operation in 1991. His grandfather, Julio César Turbay Ayala, served as Colombia’s president from 1978 to 1982.
The Harvard graduate and former Bogota city councilor had announced his presidential bid last year from the location where his mother was killed. He has been an outspoken critic of the current leftist administration led by President Petro.
International condemnation followed the attack. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement condemning the attempted assassination in the strongest possible terms, while also criticizing Petro’s rhetoric. Leaders from Chile, Ecuador, Spain, and Venezuela expressed solidarity with Uribe’s family and condemned political violence.
A judge confirmed the arrest of the teenage suspect, with prosecutors submitting 129 videos, witness testimonies, and the seized pistol as evidence. The minor is expected to face charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of a weapon once questioning begins.
Supporters gathered outside the hospital where Uribe is being treated, holding candlelight vigils and displaying Colombian flags. The Democratic Centre party described the shooting as an unacceptable act of violence and called for thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The incident underscores Colombia’s ongoing struggle with political violence, stemming from decades of conflict between leftist rebels, criminal groups descended from right-wing paramilitaries, and government forces. Colombia has historically faced challenges with organized crime groups utilizing minors to carry out violent acts, a pattern authorities continue to investigate in this case.
