Driver shot dead by gunmen while picking up passengers in Peru

A driver for an informal transport route in San Juan de Miraflores, Peru, was fatally shot while picking up passengers on June 21, 2026. Carlos Chimaco Campos, 34, was operating his van on the Atocongo-Huaycán route when the attack occurred.

According to witnesses, armed assailants boarded the vehicle at a stop and shot Campos directly. Passengers inside the van panicked during the shooting. After the attackers fled, bystanders attempted to help Campos, rushing him to the María Auxiliadora hospital. However, medical staff pronounced him dead due to the severity of his gunshot wounds.

The incident has heightened concerns among other drivers on the route, who report being frequent victims of extortion. One colleague stated that drivers are forced to pay "cupos" or protection money to operate. These illegal payments are reportedly collected at both the Huaycán and San Juan de Miraflores terminals, disrupting daily operations.

It remains unclear which criminal organization is responsible for Campos's death. Drivers speculate it could be an existing extortion group or a new one attempting to establish control. Police are investigating the motive and have not ruled out a connection to the ongoing extortion issues plaguing the transport sector in Lima.