Miguel Uribe, a Colombian senator and candidate in the upcoming presidential election, passed away early Monday, two months after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head during a campaign rally. He was 39 years old.
Uribe, a prominent figure in the country’s conservative opposition, was attacked while delivering a speech in Bogotá on June 7. The incident shocked the nation and sparked widespread calls for justice.
His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, confirmed his death on social media, writing,”I ask God to show me the way to learn to live without you,” she wrote. “Rest in peace, love of my life, I will take care of our children.”
Doctors at Santa Fe Foundation Hospital, where he had been receiving care, reported that his condition deteriorated over the weekend due to bleeding in his central nervous system. Supporters had frequently gathered outside the hospital to hold vigils during his hospitalization.
Former President Álvaro Uribe, leader of the Democratic Center party to which the late senator belonged (but not a relative), expressed grief over the loss. He said, “Evil destroys everything; they killed hope,” and called for Uribe’s legacy to guide the nation’s future.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also responded to the news, offering condolences and affirming that the United States stands with Colombia in mourning and in seeking justice.
Authorities have arrested six individuals linked to the attack. Among them is a 15-year-old suspect believed to have carried out the shooting. He was apprehended hours after the incident, and in a video of his arrest, he claimed he had been paid by a local drug trafficker. Police say they are still pursuing the masterminds behind the attack.
A reward of up to 3 billion pesos (around $740,000) has been offered for information leading to those responsible. The governments of the United States, United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates are assisting in the investigation.
Uribe’s death marks another tragic chapter in a family already scarred by violence. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed in 1991 during a failed rescue operation after being kidnapped by the Medellín Cartel, led by Pablo Escobar.
Miguel Uribe rose quickly through the political ranks. He gained attention as a staunch critic of President Gustavo Petro and became a key figure in the right-wing Democratic Center party. At age 25, he was elected to Bogotá’s city council, where he frequently opposed Petro’s policies, especially on waste management and social programs.
In the 2022 legislative elections, Uribe led his party’s Senate list under the slogan “Colombia First,” winning a seat in the chamber.
Politics ran in his blood. His maternal grandfather, Julio César Turbay, served as Colombia’s president from 1978 to 1982. On his father’s side, his grandfather Rodrigo Uribe Echavarría was a leader of the Liberal Party and supported Virgilio Barco’s successful 1986 presidential bid.
Uribe is survived by his wife, son, two stepdaughters, father, and sister.
