Gunfire Attack Targets Community Leader Óscar Melendres in Buenavista, Colombia

Óscar Melendres Garcés, president of Asocomunal Buenavista and a local political leader, reported that a man on a motorcycle opened fire repeatedly at the front of his house in the San José neighborhood on Tuesday night. Melendres said the shooter may be linked to an earlier incident in which a motorcyclist allegedly tried to run over his daughter and subsequently threatened him. The attacker claimed to be affiliated with the National Protection Unit. After the shooting, Melendres received calls, messages and visits of support, urging calm. He warned against “witch hunts” and premature accusations, stating, “Se debe conservar la calma, no puede haber aquí una cacería de brujas ni se puede señalar culpables de manera acelerada.”