Dr. Jesús María García Oñate was killed in Villanueva, La Guajira, while he was on his way to Santo Tomás Hospital to begin his transfer, this Friday morning, April 19. García Oñate was shot several times by an unknown man, leaving him seriously injured.
Despite the community’s efforts to move him to a medical center, García Oñate arrived without vital signs, having suffered several gunshot wounds to the face and chest. The shock turned to frustration as the community demanded justice, demanding that the accused murderer be caught.
After the incident, riots broke out in the area, which led to the joint deployment of the army and the police to restore order in the town.
The authorities began an operation to maintain calm in the town and managed to capture the suspect, who was found with a 38 caliber weapon, apparently used in the crime.
The Secretary of Government in La Guajira, Misael Vásquez, thanked the community for its quick response, which led to the capture of the suspect. According to initial investigations, the crime could be related to a personal conflict between the murderer and the father of the deceased doctor.
The unfortunate death of the doctor García Oñate adds to the alarming suicide statistics that are constantly increasing in the department of La Guajira.
