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Colombian identified after being shot dead; was on trial for drug trafficking and out on bail
🇧🇴 Bolivia /Crime & Justice

Colombian identified after being shot dead; was on trial for drug trafficking and out on bail

From El Deber · (1h ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A Colombian national, identified as Yefersson Alexander Barreto Sánchez, was fatally shot in Bolivia.
  • Barreto Sánchez was reportedly involved in a drug trafficking case and was awaiting trial while out on bail.
  • Authorities are investigating the incident, which also injured a bystander with a stray bullet, and are searching for the two motorcyclists believed to be responsible.

A violent crime has shaken Santa Cruz, Bolivia, with the fatal shooting of Colombian national Yefersson Alexander Barreto Sánchez. The incident, which occurred early Saturday morning, has brought to light the victim's alleged involvement in drug trafficking and his ongoing legal battles in the country.

The citizen of Colombian nationality who was victimized by firearm shots in the early hours of this Saturday... was identified as Yefersson Alexander Barreto Sánchez, according to reports from authorities of the Special Force to Combat Crime (Felcc) and the Prosecutor's Office.

— AuthoritiesOfficial identification of the victim.

According to reports from the Special Force to Combat Crime (Felcc) and the Prosecutor's Office, Barreto Sánchez was gunned down outside a local establishment after a brief altercation with a food vendor. Two motorcyclists reportedly intercepted him as he was about to get into his vehicle, firing multiple shots. The attack was so brazen that a stray bullet also wounded a passerby, who was subsequently taken to a health center.

The man was riddled with bullets on the outskirts of an entertainment venue...

— AuthoritiesDescription of the crime scene.

Further complicating the narrative, initial investigations revealed that Barreto Sánchez was facing charges for drug trafficking and was in the process of an oral trial. Despite his legal entanglements dating back to 2013, he had been granted provisional liberty. This detail raises questions about the circumstances surrounding his release and the potential connections he may have had within the criminal underworld.

Barreto Sánchez was processed for the crime of trafficking in controlled substances and was in the oral trial stage. The foreigner had been involved in a drug trafficking case since 2013, but was defending himself in freedom.

— Felcc and Prosecutor's OfficeDetails about the victim's legal situation.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to identify and apprehend the assailants. The victim's mother arrived to claim his body, reportedly unaware of her son's alleged illicit activities. This case underscores the persistent challenges posed by organized crime and drug trafficking in the region, highlighting the complex web of legal proceedings and the ever-present threat of violence.

The victim died instantly as a result of five gunshot wounds he suffered in the chest and head.

— Forensic expertsAutopsy findings regarding the cause of death.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Deber in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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