BOGOTÁ, Colombia: A Colombian journalist investigating corruption was killed over the weekend in a town near the Venezuelan border, officials said Monday.
Journalist Jaime Vasquez, 54, was shot dead in Cucuta in front of about a dozen witnesses, according to security video released by local media.
According to the prosecutor, the suspect fled on a motorcycle.
A friend said that President Gustavo Petro announced on the X that he had ordered an investigation into Vasquez’s murder. Vasquez had reported fraudulent contracts and abuse of power in city government and has received threats as a result of his work.
Colombia’s FLIP press freedom foundation condemned the killing and called for a quick and thorough investigation.
According to FLIP, 167 journalists have been killed in Colombia since 2006. Last year, 163 journalists were threatened.
Eight more people were killed over the weekend in and around Cucuta, an area where militia fighters, guerrillas and local gangs are active, police said.
