Man sentenced to over 17 years for killing dog walker after neighborhood dispute

Jesús Darío Aguirre Bustamante, 62, has been sentenced to 17 years and 4 months in prison for the August 2025 murder of Jaime Esteban Rendón Rincón, a 37-year-old municipal official and dog walker in Rionegro, Colombia.

The fatal incident occurred on August 29, 2025, in the San Bartolo neighborhood of San Antonio de Pereira. The confrontation began when one of the dogs Rendón Rincón was walking entered Aguirre Bustamante's yard. Aguirre Bustamante reacted with extreme violence, firing five shots into Rendón Rincón's chest, causing fatal injuries.

An investigation by the Antioquia Sectional Prosecutor's Office revealed that Aguirre Bustamante had a history of conflicts with neighbors, stemming from a strong aversion to pets in the vicinity. This animosity tragically escalated to the murder of the municipal employee.

While a judge found Aguirre Bustamante guilty of homicide and ordered his immediate transfer to prison, the sentence is not yet final. Both the defense for the accused and the legal representatives of the victims have appealed the ruling. The prosecution has also filed an appeal, arguing for an aggravated sentence.