Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, 39, died on Monday, August 11, 2025, following two months of treatment for gunshot wounds sustained during a June 7 campaign event in Bogotá. His wife, María Claudia Tarazona, announced his death on social media. The Santa Fe Foundation hospital in Bogotá, where he had remained in intensive care since the shooting, reported that his condition had recently worsened due to a hemorrhage affecting his central nervous system and noted multiple surgeries since June. According to hospital information carried by several outlets, his time of death was recorded at approximately 1:56 a.m. local time. Statements from national authorities and political figures followed, confirming the death and noting that the criminal investigation would continue.

June 7 Attack and Status of the Investigation

Uribe was shot while addressing supporters at a political rally in the capital. Reports describe three wounds—two to the head and one to the leg—inflicted during the attack. A 15-year-old suspect was arrested within hours, and in video from the arrest independently verified by reporters, the teenager can be heard stating that he had been hired by a local drug dealer. Prosecutors have said the case extends beyond the alleged triggerman. As of August 11, six people were under arrest in connection with the shooting, including adults accused of participating in planning meetings held in Medellín. Authorities say they are pursuing the “intellectual authors” of the crime and have charged at least some adult suspects with offenses that include using a minor to commit a crime. Officials announced a reward of up to 3 billion pesos for information that advances the case and cited assistance from partners in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. Police and prosecutors have identified Élder José Arteaga Hernández—known as “Chipi” or “El Costeño”—among suspected organizers; he was detained weeks after the attack. As of the latest public updates in the provided material, investigators had not announced a confirmed motive.

Political Profile and 2026 Ambitions

Uribe was an opposition senator from the Democratic Center (Centro Democrático) party and had declared his intention to seek his party’s nomination for the May 2026 presidential election. He entered public life at age 25 as a Bogotá city councilor. At 30, he was appointed the city’s government secretary—described at the time as the youngest to hold the post—and later resigned in 2018 to run for mayor of Bogotá as an independent. In the 2022 legislative elections, he led his party’s Senate slate with the slogan “Colombia First,” winning a seat and becoming a visible opposition voice. His public positions emphasized security policy and institutional order, and he was a consistent critic of the current administration’s security and peace initiatives. Following his announcement of national ambitions, he continued campaigning for his party’s nomination until the June attack and subsequent hospitalization. Coverage in the provided sources characterized him as an up-and-coming figure within the right-of-center bloc and a prominent critic of President Gustavo Petro’s government.

Family Background and Public Response

Uribe’s family has long been present in Colombian public life. His maternal grandfather, Julio César Turbay Ayala, served as president from 1978 to 1982. His paternal grandfather, Rodrigo Uribe Echavarría, led the Liberal Party and supported Virgilio Barco’s successful 1986 presidential campaign. Uribe’s mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped in 1990 by a coalition of drug traffickers and died in 1991 during a failed rescue operation. The senator is survived by his wife, his son, and stepdaughters; some reports also note his father and sister among surviving relatives. In the weeks after the June shooting, supporters organized vigils and “silent marches” in Bogotá and other cities, with attendees commonly dressed in white. After his death, statements of condolence and calls for accountability were issued by officials across the political spectrum and by foreign figures. Public commentary in the provided material drew comparisons to earlier periods of political violence in Colombia, noting the assassinations of candidates and senior officials in the 1980s and 1990s.

Security Measures and Next Steps

Authorities expanded protective measures for politicians and presidential aspirants following the attack, and some campaigns adjusted their schedules to reduce open-air events while risk assessments were reviewed. Law enforcement agencies reported multiple arrests in the case and indicated ongoing efforts to identify financiers and organizers behind the shooting. The status described in the provided documents includes the teenage suspect alleged to have carried out the shooting, several adults tied by prosecutors to pre-attack meetings, and an identified organizer under detention. Officials reiterated that the investigation remains active, with a standing reward for information and international cooperation in place. As proceedings continue through the courts, further updates are expected on charges, hearings, and any additional arrests. The provided materials do not include a final determination of motive or affiliation, and prosecutors have continued to characterize the probe as developing.