17-year-old footballer shot dead in Palmira leaving synthetic pitches
Jehn Sebastián Pérez Zuluaga, aged 17, was shot by men on motorcycles in the Las Mercedes neighbourhood of Palmira. The CTI and Police are investigating the crime.
Young football prospect shot and killed in Palmira, Valle del Cauca
Jehn Sebastián Pérez Zuluaga, aged 17, was murdered on Sunday in the Las Mercedes neighbourhood of Palmira when returning from a sporting event. According to infobae.com, the young man—known locally as El Zurdo—and a family member were intercepted at the exit of synthetic pitches by several armed men, dressed in black and travelling on motorcycles, who opened fire on both of them.
Pérez Zuluaga was immediately transferred to Clínica Palma Real, but his injuries proved fatal and he died minutes after being admitted. His companion was not identified as a fatality in the available reports.
Investigation led by CTI and Police
The case is being directed by the Technical Investigation Body (Cuerpo Técnico de Investigación, CTI) of the Prosecutor's Office and the Palmira Police, who are conducting witness statements and gathering evidence to establish the circumstances of the crime and identify those responsible.
Educleixer Valencia, manager of the Municipal Sports Institute of Palmira, noted that initial information points to a prior altercation between unrelated individuals and the athlete's father. "We regret the death of our football prospect, committed suddenly by maladjusted individuals, through intolerance," Valencia stated. The authorities have not ruled out that the attack was a violent reaction related to that earlier confrontation, although the investigation remains open.
Mourning at Allianz club and Cantera de Sueños
Pérez Zuluaga trained from childhood at the Allianz and Cantera de Sueños club in Palmira, an institution which issued an official statement in his memory:
"It is with profound sorrow that we lament the death of our beloved player Jehn Sebastián, who was part of the Allianz Palmira family for many years. As a sign of respect, mourning and solidarity with his family, friends and loved ones, over the next three days our social media will remain silent, suspending all scheduled posts. We raise a prayer for his eternal rest and send an embrace full of strength to all those who today feel his passing. Rest in peace, Jehn Sebastián. You will always be part of the Allianz Palmira family."
Coaches and teammates remember him as a disciplined young man with great ambitions in football. His death has had a profound impact among family members and the sporting community in the region.
Messages from the community
On social media, those close to him and former teammates expressed their grief. "He went off to play in heaven," one user wrote. Another recalled: "So many memories remain and the broken dreams of someone so young… a strong embrace to the family and to all my academy mates my eternal gratitude." A third added: "I knew him and had the pleasure of playing when he was just a child when his dad brought him to play with us, we saw his development, he had so much talent."
The homicide of Pérez Zuluaga renews concerns about the safety of young athletes in the municipality of Palmira.
Source: Google News CO — Crime