Calle 33, a nightlife hotspot in Colombia’s second largest city of Medellín, was the scene of an assassination on Wednesday evening when a hitman repeatedly shot and murdered 26-year old Edwin Arango Amaya. Arango was the owner of a popular bar in the district. A second man was also injured, but has since been treated and released.
According to the SISC and local police, Arango’s bar is a popular destination for locals and was recognized for organizing and promoting urban music events.
Witnesses told “El Colombiano” that after the murder, the hitman casually crossed the street and escaped on the back of a motorcycle that was waiting for him.
This murder means that there have been 353 homicides in Medellín this year, with 43 homicides in the city in August alone. That is an 18% rise from last year at this time. Critics have blamed Federico Gutiérrez, Medellín’s mayor, for his soft approach on crime and his reluctance to crack down on criminal gangs which have ramped up activity in recent months.
This article was updated on August 30th, 2017 to add context to Federico Gutiérrez.
