Teen accused of assassination attempt pleads not guilty

A 15-year-old boy charged with attempting to assassinate Colombian Senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe has entered a plea of "not guilty," according to the prosecutor’s office. The teenager faces formal charges of attempted murder following the shooting of Uribe, who remains in critical condition after being shot in the head.

Police suspect the boy acted as a “sicario” or hitman for hire and have also charged him with illegal firearm possession. Uribe's wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, expressed her anguish, stating, “No family in Colombia should be going through this,” and described the situation as beyond mere pain or horror.

Uribe’s father thanked the public for their support and prayers, noting that his son has united the nation against violence. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, especially as Uribe was lagging in polls against other candidates at the time.

Footage from the incident shows the senator speaking to supporters in Bogotá when the suspect approached and fired at least eight shots, hitting Uribe twice in the head and once in the leg. The attacker was detained by security, and a 9mm Glock was recovered.

In a video of his arrest, the suspect claimed he was hired by a local drug dealer, stating, “I did it for the money, for my family.” However, in court, he denied the charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm. If found guilty, he could face up to eight years in a rehabilitation center due to his age.

On the same day, Colombia experienced a surge of violence, with bomb and gun attacks in the southwest resulting in at least seven fatalities. Authorities believe these incidents may be linked to a faction that split from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

President Gustavo Petro has suggested that an international crime ring may be involved in the attack on Uribe, although no concrete evidence has been provided. In light of the violence, Petro has increased security measures for government officials.

Uribe has been a vocal critic of Petro’s security policies, which aim to resolve decades of armed conflict. Despite having two bodyguards at the time of the attack, Uribe’s lawyer, Víctor Mosquera, stated that the senator had sought additional protection.