17-year-old hitman arrested in Bogotá: accused of 20 homicides
A teenager known as "Papucho" was apprehended in Los Mártires following an armed attack. Police found a pistol, magazine and sound suppressor in his possession.
Teenager accused of 20 homicides arrested in Los Mártires district
A 17-year-old youth known by the alias Papucho was arrested in Bogotá after being identified as the suspected perpetrator of a fatal shooting in the La Favorita sector, in the Los Mártires district. According to infobae.com, preliminary investigations link the minor to approximately 20 murders.
The adolescent was intercepted by officers from the Bogotá Metropolitan Police as he attempted to flee down carrera 17, minutes after the Communications Centre received an alert about the incident, in which one person was injured.
During a search, agents found in his possession a pistol, a magazine and a sound suppressor, items that were seized as key evidence in the investigation.
Police response and official statement
Lieutenant Colonel Norberto Caro, head of the Special Protection and Services section, explained the procedure: "Thanks to the prompt response of the various attention zones in the Mártires district, specifically in the La Favorita sector, we managed to apprehend a minor aged seventeen for the crimes of homicide and illegal firearm possession."
The officer further detailed that the minor "would be involved in other incidents affecting the life and integrity of citizens in the Ciudad Bolívar district." The swift mobilisation was made possible through the activation of a lockdown plan in the area, which allowed authorities to prevent the suspect's escape and secure the evidence.
A judge of the Republic ordered his remand in a preventive detention centre. The adolescent faces charges for homicide and illegal firearm possession.
Wider offensive against homicide in Bogotá
The arrest of Papucho is part of a larger-scale operation: the National Police reported that a recent offensive against homicide in Bogotá resulted in the apprehension of 73 people accused of murders committed in the city.
Among those arrested is Carlos Mario Rodríguez Rosas, who until recently held the position of corporate manager at Banco de Bogotá. Police accuse him of having murdered his romantic partner, Ana María Meza, 36 years old, on 25 January 2026.
Rodríguez Rosas initially informed authorities that, after a meeting with friends in his apartment in northern Bogotá, his partner had jumped from the building once they were alone. He also stated that Ana María had previously mentioned to him that she suffered from depression and that she used quetiapine to sleep.
However, after reviewing security footage, witness statements from neighbours and family members, and other evidence collected, investigators ruled out the suicide hypothesis and concluded that it was a suspected femicide, leading to the arrest of the accused.
The National Police reiterated its call to the community to report any situation that compromises security by calling 123 or visiting the nearest police station.
Source: Google News CO — Bogotá