Bogotá: Video Reveals Moments Before Rice Executive Aponte’s Assassination

Colombian Presidential Candidate Shot, Businessman Targeted in Separate Attacks

Bogotá, Colombia – A wave of violence has shaken Colombia, with a conservative presidential candidate, Miguel Uribe Turbay, critically wounded in a shooting in Bogotá on Saturday, and a prominent businessman, Gustavo Andrés Aponte, assassinated in a targeted attack in the city’s north. Authorities are investigating both incidents, with emerging details suggesting a possible resurgence of armed groups.

Uribe Turbay, a lawmaker from the right-wing Democratic Center party, was shot in the head while meeting with supporters, according to a party statement. President Gustavo Petro condemned the shooting and ordered a full investigation, vowing to punish those responsible, calling them “scum of humanity.” Reports indicate Uribe Turbay underwent surgery and is currently in critical condition. Some observers have questioned the circumstances of the shooting, noting a perceived lack of immediate blood at the scene, and questioning whether the attack was contrived.

Separately, Gustavo Andrés Aponte, a well-known businessman in the rice sector, and his bodyguard, Luis Gabriel Gutiérrez, were killed in a shooting outside a gym in Bogotá’s upscale Calle 85 with Carrera 7. Police have arrested a suspect in connection with Aponte’s murder. A video has surfaced showing the alleged assailant surveilling the area for several minutes before the shooting, and appearing to speak on the phone. Investigators believe a 9mm weapon was used in the attack.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, friends and associates of Aponte have revealed that he had been receiving threatening calls, reportedly from illegal armed groups. Felipe Arias, a presenter and friend of Aponte, shared that the businessman expressed concerns about traveling to the Tolima region, fearing a return to the violence he experienced three decades prior. Arias recounted a planned meeting with Aponte on February 12, 2026, to coordinate aid for those affected by recent cold fronts in Córdoba, a meeting that tragically never took place.

“He was scared to go to the lands in Tolima, but that was his only fear,” Arias said. “I asked him why he only traveled with two bodyguards, to which he replied, ‘I trust in God and the Virgin, and I dedicate myself to social works, all I do is pray.’ He felt very safe, very confident that nothing would happen to him, and I think he dismissed those threats he told me about.”

Arias further stated that Aponte believed a resurgence of activity from illegal armed groups was occurring in the Tolima region. He described Aponte as a generous and deeply spiritual man, actively involved in charitable work and devoted to his family. Aponte was also a designated “minister of communion” within the Catholic Church, authorized to consecrate and distribute the Eucharist.

The attacks have prompted widespread grief and calls for justice. Friends and colleagues have taken to social media to express their sorrow and demand accountability. Fedearroz, the national rice federation, expressed its concern over Aponte’s assassination and urged authorities to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible, calling the incident “lamentable.”

Authorities continue to investigate both incidents, seeking to determine the motives behind the attacks and identify any potential connections between them. The violence underscores the ongoing security challenges facing Colombia, even as the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of decades of conflict.