Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned the assassination of Colombian senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay, who died Monday after being shot during a June campaign rally. Uribe was 39.
“Deeply saddened to learn of Colombian Senator @MiguelUribeT’s tragic death,” Rubio wrote on social media. “The United States stands in solidarity with his family, the Colombian people, both in mourning and demanding justice for those responsible.”
Uribe was hospitalized in critical condition immediately after the shooting, which took place at a campaign rally in his country’s capital of Bogota. He had been a prominent opposition voice against the left-wing government of President Gustavo Petro.
Uribe came from a prominent political family that had been previously impacted by political violence. His grandfather, Julio César Turbay Ayala, served as president for four years starting in 1972. His mother, Diana Turbay, was kidnapped and killed by the Medellín Cartel in 1991.
It’s not clear who ordered the assassination or why.
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), who was born in Colombia, condemned Uribe’s killing.
“Miguel Uribe represented the best of Colombia. May he rest in peace, may his spirit guide Colombia into the future, and may this horrible situation wake up a sentiment of reconciliation and direction for Colombians,” he wrote on X.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) also expressed his condolences to Uribe’s family, calling the politician “brilliant, tireless, brave” in a Spanish-language post on social media.
