In Yopal, its inhabitants are still shocked by the murder of former mayor John Jairo Torrespopularly known as John ‘Calzones’. A young hitman shot him on Tuesday from a motorcycle that had been stolen in Paz de Ariporo hours before, and since then the Prosecutor’s Office and the Police They are dedicated to establishing who is responsible for the homicide, with an element that has caught their attention.
The four gunshot wounds were recorded on his La Selvita farm, located in the rural area of Yopal and from where he was urgently taken to the Orinoquía Regional Hospitalwhere he died from serious injuries around noon on September 29.
He governor of Casanare, César Ortiz Zorrooffered a reward of up to 50 million pesos for anyone who provides information that leads to the murderers. Furthermore, he had all the capabilities of his team to clarify what happened.
Jhon ‘Calzones’ Photo:Courtesy
John ‘Calzones’ had that nickname because of the Caricias Íntimas clothing store he had years ago.. He grew up as a low-cost clothing merchant and later became a widely known figure in Yopal’s political world.
When he had already won votes among the people, he ran for mayor and won. He held office between 2016 and 2017, the year in which he had to pay his pending bills with justice in prison.. He faced problems for illicit enrichment and money laundering, and was disqualified by the Attorney General’s Office in a disciplinary ruling.
John Calzones died Photo:Supplied.
One of the scandals that surrounded him had to do with society Citadel The Blessing SASwith which more than a decade ago he dedicated himself to selling lots to people with limited economic resources. However, these properties did not have sufficient papers and legal supports, and that is why his name was involved in several controversies and claims that his successors had to manage. The version that always ran in the region is that those lands were linked to drug traffickingand that the sale of underwear and meat at such a low cost could also have that same link.
The investigation and the first suspect
The Attorney General’s Office and the National Police They have videos of the moment the former mayor was attacked, as well as recordings of him days before his death. From these elements, which have gone viral on social networks, they have been able to build a preliminary hypothesis that leads to the Cómbita prison.
Panoramic image of the Combita prison. Photo:EL TIEMPO Archive
EL TIEMPO learned that this version, which will have to be cleared up, is based on the statements given by a minor apprehended by the authorities. According to versions that knew him unofficially, a man known by the alias ‘Mara’ He was the one who contacted him to commit the murder.
When investigating this alias and carrying out a traceability exercise, the authorities identified that It would be a man named José Alcides Ramírezimprisoned in the maximum security prison of Cómbita, Boyacá, for an extortion case. Apparently this suspects He identified himself with other people as members of the ELN to ask merchants for moneyalthough it has not been possible to establish whether he is in fact part of that guerrilla.
Jhon Jairo Torres, known as ‘Jhon Calzones’. Photo:Courtesy
For the investigators, it has caught their attention that the arrested young man is a native of Coffee Axisthat is why they also check whether the crime was planned from that region. In addition, they analyze the theft of the motorcycle used to kill the former mayor. The victim of that robbery recorded on September 28 was identified as Bernabe Jimenezwho was also murdered.
Carlos López – @CarlosL49 – carben@eltiempo.com
