Why did a man with security training and who was traveling in an armored truck decide to get out of the vehicle to meet two strangers? That is one of the questions that the investigators who took on the case of the murder of Miguel Castellanos, former secretary of the Government of Cúcuta and former police officer, which occurred on Monday on the western ring road of the capital of Norte de Santander.
The crime occurred around 5:50 p.m. on Mondayin the vicinity of the Tasajero service station, in the El Pórtico sector. Castellanos was traveling in a Toyota TXL truck, accompanied by one of his 12-year-old sons, when, due to circumstances that are still the subject of investigation, He stopped the vehicle and got out. to meet two men who They remained a few meters awayapparently on board a motorcycle.
According to preliminary information known to this newspaper, the retired officer managed to hold a meeting with the two subjects before one of them shot him twice. Castellanos would have tried to react to the attack and, according to the first reports, was lying on the road approximately two meters from his truck, with a gun in his hand. The perpetrators escaped on a motorcycle. with similar characteristics to a Suzuki GN.
He was Miguel Castellanos, the former Secretary of Government murdered in Cúcuta. Photo:Private file
However, beyond the homicide sequence, authorities are seeking to establish what happened in the moments before the attack. One of the aspects that focuses the attention of researchers is Castellanos’ decision to abandon the protection of your vehicletaking into account his career in the National Police and the knowledge he had about security procedures.
EL TIEMPO learned details of the investigation undertaken by the Special Investigations Unit (UEI) of the Attorney General’s Officeas it is the murder of a political leader. The agents have already begun urgent actions that include analyzing the Jericho 9 millimeter caliber weapon with which Castellanos was shot, which was seized at the scene along with a supplier with nine cartridges.
CTI agents. Photo:CTI
Besides, The first investigations were aimed at inspecting the bodytake photographs of the crime scene, study the terrain and interview witnesses and family members of the victim.
From that preliminary report it emerged that Miguel Castellanos received several gunshot wounds in his right axillary region.on the left shoulder and in the nasal region.
A traffic accident or a meeting with the murderers?
Among the first versions that began to be examined is the possibility that the former official he would have gotten out of his truck after a traffic incident with the occupants of the motorcycle.
However, this hypothesis raises two questions. The first has to do with the conditions in which the vehicle was left, since, according to the information known so far, no hits found that allow establishing that a collision had occurred. The second is related to the reaction of Castellanos, who, due to his police experience, I knew the risks of getting off of an armored car to complain to unknown people on a public road.
Miguel Castellanos spoke about young talent and the challenge of employment in Cúcuta. Photo:Screenshot social networks
For this reason, another line of investigation aims to determine if the former official voluntarily stopped the truck for talk to the two men who were approximately two meters away, behind the vehicle.
This possibility also opens questions about the nature of the encounter. The researchers They seek to establish whether Castellanos knew to any of the subjects, if was approached while passing by the sector or if there was any circumstance that led you to stop and talk to them.
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The position in which the truck was left, which It was parked with the lights on.is also part of the elements that are being analyzed to reconstruct the seconds before the homicide.
Added to this is the firearm that, according to preliminary reports, I had Castellanos in my hand when it was found. The authorities must determine if He managed to draw it before being shot.Yeah he tried to use it to defend himself and when the reaction to their attackers occurred.
On the other hand, The former Secretary of the Government of Cúcuta had several records in the judicial courts. In the last three years he reported that there were death threats against him. He also claimed to have been slandered and has a history of reporting the crime of human trafficking and also of alleged forced displacement. Likewise, he had reported having been insulted and having been a victim of procedural fraud.
Justice Editorial
Justicia@eltiempo.com
