INPEC officer shot dead in Cali; wife injured

Authorities in Cali, Colombia, are investigating the fatal shooting of an INPEC (National Penitentiary and Prison Institute) officer in the city's eastern district. Alexander Mejía Cuéllar was killed in a drive-by shooting on Friday night in front of his residence in the Nueva Floresta neighborhood.

Mejía Cuéllar, who had dedicated over 30 years to the INPEC and was stationed at the Villahermosa prison, was reportedly approached by individuals on a motorcycle. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene. During the attack, his wife was also wounded and is currently receiving medical attention at a local hospital.

Investigators are examining various elements related to the crime, including a recent recognition Mejía Cuéllar received from his institution for his long service. While authorities acknowledge ongoing disputes between organized criminal groups and smaller structures around the Villahermosa prison, they have not yet established a direct link between these conflicts and the officer's murder.

This incident follows a pattern of attacks against INPEC officials in the Valle del Cauca region. In 2025, two other INPEC officers, Jimmy Flores Salazar and Manuel Antonio Becerra, were killed in separate incidents in Cali and Palmira, respectively.