The bodies of two boys aged 10 and 12 were found on Sunday in a school in Quibdo, capital of Colombia’s Pacific Choco department, reported newspaper El Tiempo.
Children playing in the school grounds on Sunday afternoon came across the body of the younger child. The 10-year-old was found still breathing and brought to a hospital in the capital but pronounced brain-dead. He died at 10PM Monday.
The two boys apparently went to the school that day with their pushcart and were allowed to enter the premises, which were open, to collect used cans.
Both children showed signs of having been beaten on the head. Operational commander of the Choco Police Force Diego Lopez stated that it is thought the assailant first hit one boy on the head, before pursuing and catching the other. A bloody stone, fingerprints and footprints are the main evidence the authorities are working with.
No noise was heard from the scene of the murder, and the security guard said he was not there at the time. According to neighbors’ accounts, two men were seen loitering around the school that day. Sketches of the men have been prepared, and the mayor’s office and local police have offered a COP1 million ($516) reward for information that might lead to solving the crime.