Who was María José Estupiñán Sánchez? Colombian Influencer Shot Dead by Fake Courier in Suspected Femicide

A tragic and shocking incident occurred in Cúcuta, Colombia, where a 22-year-old social media influencer, María José Estupiñán Sánchez, was shot and killed outside her home by a man pretending to be a courier.

The attack happened in the La Riviera neighborhood near the Venezuelan border. The suspect approached her with a fake package, then shot her point-blank, hitting her right cheekbone, according to local reports. Despite being rushed to the hospital, she sadly did not survive.

Caught on Camera

Security footage captured the suspect fleeing the scene shortly after the incident. He was seen wearing a black cap, jacket, jeans, and carrying a backpack. As of now, no arrests have been confirmed, but investigations are ongoing.

Possible Motive

Authorities are looking into the possibility that her death is linked to a domestic violence case. Earlier this month, María reportedly testified against her ex-partner in court. Reports also suggest that she may have been due to receive a settlement of 30 million Colombian Pesos (approx. £5,400).

Colonel Leonardo Capacho of Cúcuta’s Metropolitan Police confirmed the details of the crime, saying, “She was killed by a man who pretended to be delivering a package.”

A Life Cut Short

María was in her seventh semester of media studies at the Francisco de Paula Santander University. She had dreams of becoming a TV presenter and also worked as a model.

The university released a statement mourning her loss: “We reject all forms of violence that extinguish the dreams of our young people. We stand in solidarity with her family, friends, and classmates.”

Magda Victoria Acosta, president of the National Gender Commission of the Colombian Judiciary, said: “She was a young, enterprising woman with a whole life ahead of her. But those dreams were cut short, like the dreams of many women in our country.”

Femicide on the Rise

This incident highlights the growing issue of gender-based violence in Colombia. According to Human Rights Watch, such violence is widespread, and many victims struggle to get justice due to poor implementation of laws and lack of support.

Just days earlier, TikTok influencer Valeria Márquez, 23, was also shot and killed in Mexico during a livestream, raising further alarm over violence targeting women in Latin America.