The death of Colombian senator and presidential pre-candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay, which occurred today, August 11, 2025, after two months in critical condition due to an armed attack, has shaken Colombia and the continent.
This tragic event, perpetrated on June 7, 2025, by a hitman barely 15 years old, not only claimed the life of a prominent conservative leader from the Democratic Center party, but has also raised alarms about the deterioration of democracy in Colombia under the government of Gustavo Petro.
Uribe Turbay, known for his staunch opposition to Petro’s leftist policies, became a symbol of resistance to what many perceive as an authoritarian drift.
On June 7, 2025, Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot in Bogotá by a teenager who fired at close range.
The senator was struck twice, once in the head, and was rushed to a hospital where he remained in critical condition until his death.
The attack, described by Interior Minister Armando Benedetti as a possible “link in a chain of terrorist attacks,” evoked the worst moments of political violence in Colombia, such as the assassinations of leaders in the 1980s and 1990s.
Uribe Turbay, 38, was a rising figure within the Democratic Center, the party founded by former president Álvaro Uribe.
His critical stance on Petro’s social and economic reforms—especially regarding security and relations with armed groups—made him a target of threats.
Hellbound and Down 