Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay Dies After Being Shot at Campaign Event: A Reminder of Colombia’s History of Political Violence

Colombian senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, a prominent figure in the right-wing opposition and potential presidential candidate, has passed away after being hospitalized for over two months following a shooting at a campaign event.

The tragic incident occurred on June 7 during a rally in Bogota, Colombia’s capital city. Uribe, 39 years old, sustained a gunshot wound to the head during the incident.

On Monday morning, the Santa Fe de Bogota Foundation hospital announced Uribe’s death following a critical condition due to a hemorrhagic episode in the central nervous system that had been reported over the weekend.

Uribe’s wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, expressed her grief on social media, writing, “Heaven will have a new star… I will take care of our children.” Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez mourned Uribe, stating, “Terrorism has robbed Colombia of an honest and transparent leader.”

In a tribute, former president Alvaro Uribe, unrelated to the senator, expressed sorrow over the loss, saying, “Evil destroys everything; they took hope from us. May Miguel’s spirit illuminate the right path for Colombia.”

Six individuals have been arrested in connection with Uribe’s shooting, including a 15-year-old boy charged with attempted homicide. Subsequent investigation revealed the minor had become involved in a hitman network. All accused parties have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The senator’s tragic death has left many in Colombia reeling, as it brings back memories of the country’s history of political violence. Uribe’s mother, Diana Turbay, was a journalist kidnapped by drug traffickers from the Medellin cartel under Pablo Escobar and murdered during a rescue operation in 1991.

Uribe began his career in local Bogota politics before entering the Senate in 2022. Last year, at the site where his mother was murdered, Uribe announced his candidacy for the 2026 presidential elections, stating, “I could have sought revenge, but I chose to forgive, but never forget.”

Uribe’s family has a significant history in Colombian politics; his grandfather, Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala, served as president from 1978 to 1982, and his grandmother, Nydia Quintero Turbay de Balcazar, was the founder of Solidarity with Colombia, an activist group promoting workers’ rights in the country.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.