A 15-year-old gunman was sentenced to seven years in juvenile detention for shooting Colombian presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay at a rally in Bogotá in June 2025.
Due to legal protections for minors, the teenager was charged with attempted murder rather than homicide. Upon his arrest, the teen reportedly cried out, “I did it for money for my family.”
Miguel Uribe Turbay, a 39-year-old senator and candidate for his party’s nomination in the 2026 presidential election, was shot three times—twice in the head and once in the leg—during a campaign event.
Despite undergoing multiple surgeries and showing some brief neurological improvements, he remained in critical condition and died on August 11, 2025, two months after the attack.
Following the shooting, five other suspects were arrested and charged with involvement in the plot.
Authorities suspect the attack was orchestrated by a dissident faction of the former left-wing FARC guerrillas, though official motives remain unclear.
His father, Miguel Uribe Londoño, announced his own presidential campaign shortly after, aiming to continue and honor his son’s legacy.
The killing shocked Colombia, evoking memories of political violence from previous decades, and sparked a day of national mourning declared by President Gustavo Petro.
Uribe Turbay’s funeral was attended by numerous political leaders, though the family requested that the president and vice president not attend.
