Merchant fatally shot in Barranquilla shopping center; suspect arrested

A merchant known for his passion for salsa dancing and cell phone sales was shot and killed inside the Fedecafé shopping center in Barranquilla. Leiner Alexander Legarda Omar, 36, was attacked by a gunman who entered the establishment and fired multiple shots at close range. Security footage captured the moment of the attack, showing the assailant approaching Legarda Omar and firing without warning. The victim sustained five gunshot wounds to the head and face, resulting in immediate death. The incident caused panic among shoppers and vendors in the busy commercial area.

Following the shooting, the perpetrator fled on foot but was pursued and apprehended by police officers near a construction site. The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Jair de Jesús Anaya De la Hoz, also known as 'El Animal', was found with a firearm. Authorities are investigating the motive behind the assassination, with preliminary hypotheses suggesting a connection to organized crime structures active in Barranquilla. The investigation is ongoing, with evidence including shell casings collected from the scene being analyzed by judicial police.

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The suspect was identified as Jair de Jesús Anaya De la Hoz, 27 years old, known by the alias 'El Animal'.