Former Cúcuta Government Secretary Miguel Castellanos Murdered; 50 Million Peso Reward Offered
Miguel Armando Castellanos was shot near a fuel station on the western ring road of Cúcuta. President De la Espriella ordered investigations and promised not to leave the crime unpunished.
Former Cúcuta Government Secretary Killed; De la Espriella Promises to Capture Those Responsible
Miguel Armando Castellanos, former Government Secretary of Cúcuta, was shot dead near a fuel station on the western ring road of the capital of North Santander, according to lafm.com.co.
According to initial reports, Castellanos had stepped out of a van in which he was travelling with one of his sons after another vehicle collided with his. It was at that moment that armed men attacked him multiple times. The perpetrators fled the scene and remain unidentified.
President Abelardo De la Espriella spoke hours after the incident through his account on X. "I strongly reject and condemn the cowardly murder of Miguel Castellanos, former Government Secretary of Cúcuta, which occurred tonight in the capital of North Santander," the head of state wrote.
De la Espriella confirmed that he had issued direct instructions to the Armed Forces and investigative agencies. "I have given instructions to our National Police to, in coordination with the General Prosecutor's Office, conduct the necessary investigations to identify, locate, and capture as soon as possible those responsible for this crime," he stated.
The president also extended condolences to the victim's family and closed his message with a warning to criminal groups: "Let the criminals be clear: in Colombia there will be no room for impunity! We will pursue those responsible with all the capacity of the State and bring them to justice."
For his part, Colonel George Edinson Quintero, Security Secretary of North Santander, rejected the homicide and announced a reward payment. "We regret this incident and announce a reward payment of up to 50 million pesos for anyone who provides information that allows the location of those responsible," the official declared.
Authorities are proceeding with respective investigations to establish the motives of the crime, which caused dismay amongst Cúcuta residents.
Castellanos was the brother of Senator Jairo Alberto Castellanos and Leandro Castellanos, former goalkeeper for Cúcuta Deportivo and current Bogotá councillor.
Source: Google News CO — Crime