August 11th, 2025 - Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Shot at Campaign Event, Dies at 39

Miguel Uribe, the Colombian senator and presidential candidate who was shot in the head during a campaign event two months ago, has passed away at the age of 39. His death follows a long battle in the hospital after the June 7 shooting in Bogotá, where he underwent multiple surgeries before succumbing to his injuries. The hospital had issued a statement over the weekend announcing that his condition had worsened, with bleeding in his brain.

In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Mr. Uribe’s wife, María Claudia Tarazona, shared her grief and made a promise to her late husband. She wrote, "You will always be the love of my life. Wait for me, because when I fulfill my promise to our children, I will come looking for you and we will have our second chance."

Four people have been arrested in connection with the shooting, including a 14-year-old boy identified as the gunman. The authorities have not yet disclosed a clear motive for the attack, though prosecutors have charged all four individuals with attempted murder and illegal firearm possession. The three adults involved, Carlos Eduardo Mora, Katerine Martínez, and William González, face additional charges for using a minor to commit a crime. The suspects have denied the charges, stating that they were following orders from an individual named Elder José Arteaga, also known as “El Costeño,” though little information has been provided about him by prosecutors.

For many Colombians, the assassination of Mr. Uribe brings painful memories of the country’s violent past. His mother, Diana Turbay, a renowned journalist, was kidnapped and killed in 1991 by a drug cartel when Miguel was a child. The tragic events in his family’s history reflect the long-standing issues of political violence in Colombia. Former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe Vélez, Miguel’s grandfather, expressed his sorrow over the loss, calling it an attack on hope, while wishing that his grandson’s struggle would serve as a guiding light for Colombia.

The attack on Mr. Uribe has rekindled fears of a return to political violence in Colombia, an issue that many had hoped the country had left behind. The shooting also highlights the ongoing divisions within the nation about how to handle the growing violence from criminal groups, many of which have ties to Colombia's prolonged internal conflict. Uribe and other conservative politicians have advocated for a hard-line stance, while President Gustavo Petro, who is left-leaning, has pledged to pursue peace deals but has yet to achieve significant progress.

The shooting has become a symbol of the deep divisions and political tensions facing Colombia. As the nation grapples with rising violence and uncertain political futures, Miguel Uribe’s death serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that continue to plague the country.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Stipulate (verb, STIP-yuh-layt) - To stipulate is to demand or require something as part of an agreement.

Example: The rules stipulate that players must wear uniforms.