Another of his sons, 10 years old, was also in the vehicle at the time of the attack.
News Colombia.
The recent massacre that occurred in Tibú, Norte de Santander, has left a deep wound in the community and throughout the country. Miguel Ángel López Rojas, his wife Zulay Durán Pacheco and their six-month-old son, Miguel Herney López Durán, were shot dead while they were traveling in their vehicle on a highway that connects Tibú with Cúcuta.
This cruel attack has unleashed a feeling of indignation and sadness in the midst of a region besieged by violence.
The crime took place this Wednesday, January 15, in the village of La Valera, in the town of La Silla, an area of Catatumbo known for being the epicenter of disputes between illegal armed groups.
According to the first investigations, still unidentified individuals intercepted the family’s vehicle and shot them mercilessly, taking the lives of three innocent people.
Miguel Ángel López, a well-known undertaker in Tibú, and his family were valued members of the community.
The news of his tragic death has generated repudiation among the inhabitants, who condemn the violence that plagues the municipality. “This fact affects us all, it is a wound in the soul of Tibu”said a resident, visibly dismayed.
Reactions to a national tragedy
President Gustavo Petro described the event as “regrettable” and asked to clarify the motives for the crime. Meanwhile, the National Police is carrying out investigations to identify those responsible for this atrocious attack.
Human rights organizations have pointed out the urgent need to guarantee the safety of vulnerable communities in Catatumbo and prevent new tragedies like this one.
#THEULTIMATE A NEW MASSACRE IS RECORDED ON THE ROAD OF #TIBU TO #CUCUTA
They report to us that a few minutes ago the owner of the funeral home was shot #SanMiguel of #Tibuallegedly 3 people died in the incident, the owner, his wife and his son who was barely months old. pic.twitter.com/dzNpgcST1V— OLGUIN MAYORGA (@OlguinMayorgaP) January 16, 2025
“The situation in Catatumbo is unsustainable. Families are caught in the middle of the conflict, and the State must intervene decisively” declared a spokesperson for Human Rights Watch.
A region under asylum
El Catatumbo, where Tibú is located, is one of the areas hardest hit by the armed conflict in Colombia. The presence of illicit crops, its strategic location for drug trafficking and the territorial struggle between armed groups such as the ELN, FARC dissidents and other criminal organizations have turned the region into a constant battlefield.
The massacre of this family is not an isolated event, but part of an escalation of violence that has affected the communities of Catatumbo for decades.
The mayor of Tibú, Richar Claro, and his wife, social manager Lizeth Ortega, expressed their rejection and solidarity through an emotional statement:
«These events leave immense pain in our municipality, affecting the souls of all of us who share the desire for peace and well-being. We send our prayers and ask for strength for your loved ones.”
The pain of a community that asks for justice
The massacre of Miguel Ángel, Zulay and their little son becomes the second recorded in Colombia this year, after the murder of three people in Cali just days before.
While justice is awaited for this family, the community of Tibú remains in dueldemanding that the lives of these three innocent people not be forgotten.
#Advance | A new massacre was recorded in the last hours in Tibú, Norte de Santander. A family traveling in a hearse was intercepted by armed men on a motorcycle. Among the victims is a baby who is only 6 months old.
More in https://t.co/yqNEZK7rZ3 pic.twitter.com/OiklkCrJvf
— Noticias Caracol (@NoticiasCaracol) January 16, 2025
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