Assassination Attempt Against Conservative Presidential Candidate in Colombia

A conservative senator in Colombia was giving a public speech Saturday as part of a run for president when a person in the crowd came up behind him and shot him in the head. Miguel Uribe Turbay is a conservative and a frequent critic of Colombia’s socialist president Gustavo Petro. He survived the attack and has been in critical condition ever since.

The attempt against Miguel Uribe Turbay, 39, a conservative politician and the grandson of a former president, took place at a campaign event in the capital, Bogotá, while a small army of cellphone cameras rolled. Videos that spread rapidly online and were verified by The New York Times show the suspect listening to Mr. Uribe deliver a campaign speech, then shooting him from behind, running away, and finally being pinned to the ground as Mr. Uribe bleeds profusely nearby, held up by his crying colleagues.

A white car smeared with his blood, pictured in numerous videos and photos, has quickly become a symbol of the attack. And the videos, taken together, have come to reflect some Colombians’ fears that the nation is headed back to the violence that shaped it from the 1980s to the early 2000s, when attacks linked to drug traffickers and left-wing guerrillas were regular occurrences in major cities…

While authorities have announced the capture of one suspect, a minor, they have offered no motive, fueling speculation about what led to the attack. Mr. Uribe has argued for a hard-line approach to the country’s armed groups, in contrast to Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, a leftist who has promised to strike peace deals with them.

There’s a lot of video from the scene because a bunch of people were there recording the speech when the attack took place. This is one of the least gruesome clips but still not something everyone will want to see.

JUST IN – Colombian Presidential Candidate Miguel Uribe in critical condition with reported head wound following assassination attempt.pic.twitter.com/lDEiiv85Fz

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) June 8, 2025

After the shooting, Uribe was carried to a car where his supporters were trying to stop the blood coming from his head.

!!! MISERABLES, COBARDES, RATAS ASQUEROSAS!!!! De que tienen miedo??? Esos son los resultados del PRESIDENTE CON SU GUERRA DE ODIO!!! Mi solidaridad con mi compañero Miguel Uribe y su familia!!! pic.twitter.com/lMgj5BmX1j

— Alirio Barrera🐴 (@JAlirioBarreraR) June 7, 2025

As mentioned above, the image of the car covered in blood is circulating widely.

HORRIFYING pic of vehicle covered in blood

Miguel Uribe shot while campaigning pic.twitter.com/FW0tMyZdEL

— RT (@RT_com) June 7, 2025

As for the shooter, he ran from the scene but was quickly chased down by a handful of men. He has been identified and is only 15-years-old.

#EsNoticia ¦ Videos de cámaras de seguridad del barrio Modelia muestran como habría intentado escapar el presunto responsable del ataque a Miguel Uribe. El sujeto, que sería menor de edad, fue interceptado por el esquema de seguridad del senador y precandidato presidencial. pic.twitter.com/KHE82AiYON

— DiariOriente (@diarioriente) June 8, 2025

The hospital hasn’t been very forthcoming with Uribe’s condition but Reuters is reporting today that he “has shown little response to treatment.” The prognosis probably isn’t good. His wife is hoping for a miracle.

“I ask you with all my heart, please don’t stop praying. Miguel needs a miracle,” María Claudia Tarazona, wife of Sen. Miguel Uribe, writes on her Instagram page. Two days ago, a teenage gunman fired a shot into Uribe’s head during a political event in the Colombian capital. pic.twitter.com/cXN8UeHsDM

— Juan Forero (@WSJForero) June 9, 2025

Why would a 15-year-old try to murder a conservative politician? As you can see above, the NY Times is trying hard to avoid blaming this on a left-wing climate of hate while also mentioning that Colombia has a long history of leftist violence. Others aren’t holding back and are pointing out some of the language President Petro has been using.

Colombian Senator @MariaFdaCabal stresses that the far-left Colombian President Gustavo Petro yelled “war to the death” at an event just before y-day’s assassination attempt on her party colleague Miguel Uribe.

Cabal is mentioned as a presidential candidate in the 2026 election pic.twitter.com/b0ZFiCJcjr

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 8, 2025

Sec. of State Rubio said something similar.

The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the attempted assassination of Senator Miguel Uribe. This is a direct threat to democracy and the result of the violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government. Having seen firsthand…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 8, 2025

This is a direct threat to democracy and the result of the violent leftist rhetoric coming from the highest levels of the Colombian government. Having seen firsthand Colombia’s progress over the past few decades to consolidate security and democracy, it can’t afford to go back to dark days of political violence. President Petro needs to dial back the inflammatory rhetoric and protect Colombian officials.

We stand in prayer with Miguel’s family, loved ones, and his supporters. Those responsible for this attack must face justice.

Tragically, Sen. Uribe’s mother was killed after being kidnapped when he was a young child.

Uribe Turbay is the son of journalist Diana Turbay, who was killed in a rescue operation after she had been kidnapped by members of drug lord Pablo Escobar’s Medellín Cartel. Hours before he was shot, Uribe Turbay recounted his mother’s killing in a public event, according to Colombian news outlet La Silla Vacía. Showing a photo of him and his mother, he said his mother’s assassination had marked his life and inspired his mission to end violence in Colombia.

Uribe’s supporters marched though the city Sunday morning and rallied outside the hospital.

Outside the hospital, they chanted loudly, at times criticizing the president. “Petro get out!” they said.

Among those at the march supporting Mr. Uribe was Ingrid Betancourt, a former presidential candidate who was kidnapped on the campaign trail in 2002 by left-wing guerrillas and spent six years in captivity.

Left-wing violence is very real, though it’s always difficult for Democrats in this country to admit it. We’re seeing some of that now in Los Angeles.

Finally, it remains a remarkable thing that President Trump’s candidacy for re-election didn’t end this way. Had he not turned his head at the last second we’d have had scenes just like this in Butler, PA.