Miguel Uribe Turbay suffered prolonged ICU battle following Bogotá rally shooting.
Colombian presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay, a senator and pre-candidate of the Democratic Centre party, has died after sustaining critical injuries in a June shooting.
His wife confirmed the news on 11 August 2025, ending weeks of speculation over his condition following multiple surgeries and a prolonged stay in intensive care.
Maria Claudia Tarazona, Uribe’s wife, shared the announcement through social media, writing: “You will always be the love of my life. Thank you for a life full of love,” and later adding, “Rest in peace, love of my life. I will take care of our children.”
Miguel Uribe Turbay’s Medical Battle and ICU Complications
The 39-year-old legislator was shot on 7 June 2025 during a campaign rally in the Fontibón district of Bogotá. The attacker, a teenage gunman reported to be 14 or 15 years old, struck him in the head and leg, leaving him in critical condition.
He was transferred to the Fundación Santa Fe hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery and was placed in intensive care.
Doctors reported periods of stability through July, with signs of neurological response emerging. However, a severe hemorrhage in his central nervous system and intracranial complications caused his health to deteriorate rapidly, leading to his death.
The attack intensified concerns over political violence in Colombia and security risks faced by election candidates.
Colombian Presidential Hopeful’s Legacy and Political Context
Uribe was regarded as a rising figure within the conservative Democratic Centre party, founded by former president Álvaro Uribe.
His career included service as a Bogotá city councillor, a cabinet role as the youngest secretary of government under Mayor Enrique Peñalosa, and a Senate seat won in 2022.
He was seeking his party’s nomination for the 2026 presidential race at the time of the attack.
His death evoked memories of Colombia’s history of political assassinations. Uribe’s mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed in 1991 during a failed police rescue operation after being kidnapped by the Medellín cartel.
The killing has drawn comparisons to earlier cases, reinforcing national debate about the dangers faced by political leaders in the country’s democratic process. Analysis by local and international media has placed his death within this broader historical context.
Colombian authorities have arrested six suspects, including the alleged teenage shooter and an accused mastermind identified as Elder José Arteaga Hernández, known by the alias “El Costeño.”
Investigations are ongoing to establish whether the attack was politically motivated or linked to organized crime networks.
Political leaders across party lines, along with foreign officials, have expressed condolences and called for justice.
Also Read: Brazil’s Supreme Court Places Former President Jair Bolsonaro Under House Arrest
Public demonstrations in Bogotá and other cities reflected widespread rejection of political violence, with citizens demanding stronger protections for candidates ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
