Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay Dies After June Rally Attack

BOGOTÁ, August 11, 2025 — Colombian Senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay has died after spending over two months in a hospital. The 39-year-old leader was shot in the head during a campaign rally on June 7, 2025, in Bogotá. His family confirmed his death on Monday.

Uribe was a strong member of the Democratic Center party, a right-wing political group founded by former President Álvaro Uribe. Although they shared the same last name, they were not related.

He was known as a sharp critic of President Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s current left-wing leader. In October 2024, Uribe had officially launched his campaign for the 2026 presidential elections.

During the rally in June, Uribe was shot three times—twice in the head. He was immediately taken to the hospital. Since then, he had been in critical condition. His death has shocked the nation.

Uribe’s wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, shared her pain in an Instagram post. She wrote, “I ask God to show me the way to learn to live without you.”

Arrests Made After Shooting

In July 2025, Colombian police announced that five people were arrested in connection with the shooting. This included a 15-year-old boy, who is believed to have pulled the trigger. Authorities also arrested the suspected mastermind, Elder Jose Arteaga Hernandez.

Investigators said Hernandez may have convinced the teenager to carry out the shooting. The case has sparked nationwide debates over violence, youth involvement in crime, and political safety.

Uribe’s Early Life and Career

Miguel Uribe came from a family affected by Colombia’s violent past. His mother, Diana Turbay, was a well-known journalist. She died in 1991 during a failed rescue mission after being kidnapped by Pablo Escobar’s Medellín Cartel. His father was a businessman and a union leader.

At just 25 years old, Miguel Uribe became a Bogotá city councilor. At the time, President Gustavo Petro was mayor of the capital. Uribe often criticized him for poor management of city services and waste programs.

In 2022, Uribe ran for the Senate and led the Democratic Center’s list under the slogan “Colombia First.” He won a seat and became one of the party’s most vocal figures.

A Rare Assassination in Modern Colombia

Political violence at this level has not been seen in Colombia for decades. During the 1980s and early 1990s, powerful drug cartels often targeted public figures. Uribe’s death reminds many Colombians of that dark time in the country’s history.

Now, many citizens and leaders are calling for better protection for political candidates and stricter control over youth crime.